[guest post by Dana]
“The Boxer took defensive action against an Iranian drone, which had closed into a near distance, approximately 1000 yards, ignoring multiple calls to stand down threatening safety of ship and ship’s crew.”
The president added that Iran’s drone “was immediately destroyed.”
Trump said the drone’s approach of the Boxer is “the latest of many provocative and hostile actions against vessels operating in international waters.”
He said the United States “reserves [the] right to defend our personnel, facilities, condemn iran’s (sic) attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation and global commerce.”
Trump also called “on other nations to protect their ships as they go through the straight and work with us in the future.”
Here is the Pentagon’s statement:
At approximately 10 a.m. local time, the amphibious ship USS Boxer was in international waters conducting a planned inbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz.
A fixed wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) approached Boxer and closed within a threatening range. The ship took defensive action against the UAS to ensure the safety of the ship and its crew[.]
The USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, is part of a build-up of Navy ships in the region following Iran shooting down a U.S. surveillance drone and the seizure of a foreign oil tanker by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
And in further news about the U.S. and Iran: Contrary to chatter, President Trump said today that he has not appointed Rand Paul to serve as an emissary to Iran. He did say, however, that he respects the Kentucky senator and would listen to any ideas he has about increasing tensions in the region. Further, President Trump also disputed talk that he had plans to send an emissary to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
–Dana