Navy-Contracted Vessel Fires Warning Shots on Iranian Boats

A vessel contracted by the Navy in the Persian Gulf fired warning shots Thursday on two Iranian fast boats, FOX News has learned.

The Westward Venture, a ship contracted by the U.S. Military Sealift Command to carry military cargo to Kuwait, fired upon the boats Thursday after attempts to get Iranian boats' attention failed.

A Navy security team, armed with M16 rifles and .50-caliber machine guns, was onboard at the time the warning shots were fired.

The ship was about 50 miles off the coast of Iran when the fast boats approached. The Westward Venture attempted to make bridge-to-bridge contact to warn the fast boats that they were too close.

The Military Sealift Command vessel then blew its whistle and fired flares before finally firing warning shots with the machine gun when the boats came within 100 yards of the vessel.

Bridge-to-bridge communication was established after the shots were fired, with someone claiming to be the Iranian Coast Guard contacting the Westward Venture.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is suspected of being involved in this incident, officials told FOX News.

Defense officials said that typically the guard behaves in a very unprofessional and aggressive manner, using unmarked boats and uniforms, unlike the Iranian Navy.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352579,00.html