US naval vessel near Straits of Hormuz opens fire on small boat

[FluffyMcDeath]

One person aboard the fishing boat was killed. Perhaps the Navy had hoped that they were firing at some Iranians (nothing like a little provocation to get things going) but, tough luck, it was an Indian they killed. Now it's a diplomatic problem.

Then again, maybe it's a message. India is not on side with the whole US war on Iran - India is quite happy to buy Iranian oil and is willing to pay in gold to avoid embargoed banking institutions.

 

[Robert]

I heard about this on BBC World Service the other night.

The report said the boat was speeding towards the US ship and ignored repeated warnings to stop. It didn't say whether that included "shots across the bow" but if it did, I can't blame them for being jittery.
(Not that I trust either the BBC or the US Navy to tell the truth.)

-EDIT-
Sorry, I've now read your link and it covers my point pretty well.

The fishermen, hospitalised with gunshot wounds after the incident, said that their craft had attempted to avoid any contact with the Rappahannock.​

"We had no warning at all from the ship, we were speeding up to try and go around them and then suddenly we got fired at," 28-year-old Muthu Muniraj said from hospital, his legs punctured by the rounds of the US craft's .50-caliber gun.​

"We know warning signs and sounds and there were none; it was very sudden. My friend was killed, he's gone. I don't understand what happened," he said on Tuesday.​

After firing on the fishing boat, the US ship sailed away without stopping to help, the fishermen said. They had to call for help themselves.
​

Smells like murder to me. ​

 

[Glaucus]

Maybe India wanted to start a war and sent covert fishermen to "get things started".

Or maybe, just maybe, bad luck happened.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Maybe India wanted to start a war and sent covert fishermen to "get things started".

Or maybe, just maybe, bad luck happened.

It might be good for India to drive a wedge with the US with their population.

 

[Argo]

50 cal and he still has legs. Should consider himself lucky.

 

[Robert]

50 cal and he still has legs. Should consider himself lucky.

Lucky or unlucky.
Depends on your starting point. After being shot with the 50 cal, yes, lucky to be alive.
But if you're a fisherman, starting your day, maybe hoping for a boatload to sell, finishing the day with one of your friends dead and serious injuries to your own legs could be considered extremely unlucky.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Dubai police chief believes there was no warning.