Navigational error caused Navy boats to stray into Iranian waters

Along with the navigational error, one of the boats experienced engine trouble, preventing them from evading the Iranians once the crews realised they were inside Iran’s territorial waters.

The sailors later were transferred ashore by U.S. Navy aircraft, the news release said, and other sailors took charge of the boats and continued transiting toward Bahrain. Credit: Rexburgstandardjournal.com ” After it became clear that the US combat vessels’ illegal entry into the Islamic Republic of Iran’s waters was the result of an unintentional action and a mistake and after they extended an apology, the decision was made to release them. Iran’s Fars news agency said both boats were two kilometers inside Iranian territory, according to information recorded on their Global Positioning System devices.

The incident began Tuesday when the sailors were detained off the coast of Farsi Island, which is home to a Revolutionary Guard naval base and heavily restricted.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, speaking at Fort Campbell Wednesday, told Army soldiers that the sailors were safe and assured them “our highest commitment is to the safety of all of you”.

Still images used in the report showed the sailors sitting calmly on Persian rugs. “Following their apology, they have been released to worldwide waters in the Gulf”, it said.

The Navy said it will investigate the circumstances that led to the sailors’ presence in Iranian waters.

The sailor is not identified by name in the clip but the TV interviewer says he is the “commander” of the group seized by the Iranians.

“They put guns to our guys’ heads and he was thanking them”, Trump said. He appeared to be setting the stage for more revision, saying the military still doesn’t “fully know” what happened.

The 10 USA sailors who were detained are now back with their American fleet and are getting debriefed and undergoing what the military calls “reintegration”, a series of interviews and physical and mental health examinations to ease their return to duty. “When you have a problem with the boat, you apologise the boat had a problem?”

The Pentagon said there were no signs of the sailors being harmed while in Iranian custody. The official was not authorized to discuss these details and spoke on condition of anonymity.