US choppers forced to land back on carrier after IRGC warning: Cmdr
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy said the IRGC Navy forced US helicopters to land back on their carrier in the Persian Gulf shortly after taking-off by sending warnings.
Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri made the remarks at the 24th assembly of the IRGC commanders during which a surveillance footage was released from a recent confrontation between the IRGC and the US carrier in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tangsiri said the IRGC forces, controlling the Strait of Hormuz, deployed Zolfaqar flotilla vessels to the scene and issued a warning, forcing US helicopters to land.
The footage shows the USS Bataan assault ship passing through the strait accompanied by choppers.
The boat, which arrived in the Middle East last week, was also accompanied by the USS Carter Hall land docking ship, with 4,000 troops onboard between them.
The commander of the IRGC Navy underlined that IRGC naval forces are monitoring the US military movements in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tangsiri said that there is no need for the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf, adding that Iran and its Persian Gulf neighbors can guarantee the security of the region without their
presence.
He also said the incident marked the first time in about 22 months that US naval forces entered the Persian Gulf.
Iran has consistently emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.