Iran raises death toll in missile strike: 19 sailors killed

The Iranian army says a missile strike on a naval vesseltaking part in an exercise in the Gulf of Oman has killed 19 sailors andwounded 15.

The statement Monday drastically raised the death toll inthe incident Sunday.

   

Earlier Iranian state media reports said the Konarak, aHendijan-class support ship, was too close to a target during an exercise onSunday. The vessel had been putting targets out for other ships to target. Itsaid the missile struck the vessel accidentally.

An Iranian missile fired during a training exercise in theGulf of Oman struck a support vessel near its target, killing at least onesailor and wounding 15 others, Iranian media reported Monday, amid heightenedtensions between Tehran and the US.

The friendly fire incident happened on Sunday near the portof Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran, in the Gulf ofOman, state TV said.

The missile struck the Konarak, a Hendijan-class supportship, taking part in the exercise.

State television described the missile strike as anaccident, saying the Konarak had remained too close to the target. The Konarakhad been putting targets out in the water for other ships to fire upon, itsaid.

A local hospital admitted 12 sailors and treated anotherthree with slight wounds, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Iranian media said the Konarak had been overhauled in 2018and was able to launch sea and anti-ship missiles. The Dutch-made, 47-meter(155-foot) vessel was in service since 1988 and had capacity of 40 tons. Itusually carries a crew of 20 sailors.

Iran regularly holds exercises in the region, which isclosed to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulfthrough which 20% of the world’s oil passes.

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which monitors the region, didnot immediately respond to a request for comment.

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