Iranian Navy vessel places US Helicopter on target
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WASHINGTON: A small Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard vessel pointed its weapon at a US military helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, two US defense officials told Reuters on Monday, an action they described as "unsafe and unprofessional."
The incident is the latest in a series of similar actions by Iranian vessels this year, but the first reported since Republican Donald Trump won the US presidential election on Nov. 8.
During his campaign, Trump vowed that any Iranian vessel that harassed the US Navy in the Gulf would be "shot out of the water," if he was elected. Trump is due to take office on Jan. 20.
There was no immediate Iranian comment on the incident. Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident took place when a Navy MH-60 helicopter flew within half a mile (0.8 km) of two Iranian vessels in international waters. One of the vessels pointed a weapon at the helicopter, the US officials said.