TEHRAN – The Iranian Navy said Monday that a missile struck a warship in afriendly-fire incident during a naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman leaving19 sailors dead and 15 others wounded.
The Iranian Navy, according to state TV’s website, said: “The vessel washit after moving a practice target to its destination and not creatingenough distance between itself and the target.”
The friendly fire incident involving the Konarak vessel occurred nearBandar-e Jask, off the southern coast of the Islamic republic on Sunday.
The Konarak is a light logistical support vessel made in the Netherlandsand purchased by Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Weighing 447 tonnes and 47 metres (154 feet) long, the Hendijan-classvessel is equipped with four cruise missiles, according to state television.
It was not immediately clear how many crew members were on board thewarship at the time of the accident.
Iran and its arch enemy the United States have traded barbs in the pastyear over a spate of incidents involving their forces in the sensitive Gulfwaters.
Tensions have escalated since 2018 when the US withdrew from amultinational accord that froze Iran’s nuclear programme and reimposedcrippling sanctions on its economy.
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Tasnim news agency said in an English-language tweet that the Konarak hadsunk after being hit by the missile fired by another Iranian warship.
“Konarak was ‘sunk by friendly fire’ after Moudge-class frigate ‘Jamaran’accidentally shot (it) with a missile during live firing exercise in Jaskarea of #PersianGulf waters on 10th May.”
Tasnim did not mention the detail in its Persian-language report on itswebsite.
Iran’s armed forces in January mistakenly shot down a Kiev-bound Boeing 737passenger jet shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 peopleaboard.
The military admitted to the catastrophic error, saying it came as Iran’sair defences were on high alert after firing a barrage of missiles at UStroops stationed in Iraq.
Iran launched the missiles in retaliation for the United States’ killing ofits top general Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike days before that. -APP/AFP
