MANAMA. Bahrain – The Global Patriot, a ship on short term charter to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, fired warning shots at a small boat approaching the ship as it was preparing to transit the Suez Canal Monday evening. There were no reports from the Global Patriot of casualties.
Global Patriot was approached by several boats while preparing to transit the Suez Canal. The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker on the Global Patriot to advise them to turn away. Other warning steps, including a signal flare, were used to caution the boats. One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20-30 meters in front of the boat’s bow. All shots were accounted for as they entered the water.
The incident is under investigation. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet Command is cooperating with Egyptian authorities, including the Suez Canal Authorities, through the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
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