Disturbing news broke Thursday that for the third time in a week US Navy ships in or near the Persian Gulf were harassed by vessels maned by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. But the situation escaladed Thursday when the vessels ignored warnings and got close enough to for the USS Squall to draw warning shots. As provocative as the actions of the Iranian vessels were, they did not seem important enough for the “Big Three” network news outlet who didn’t report about the engagement at all, Thursday evening.
“Tensions in the Persian Gulf on the rise tonight,” reported Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Special Report, “New confrontations between the U.S. Navy and vessels from Iran, adding to a growing list of Iran's provocative actions against the US, but this time shots were fired.”
In his report, correspondent Kevin Corke noted that the Iranian vessels managed to get roughly 200 yards away from the US patrol ship. “The USS Squall firing three warning shots at an Iranian vessel that engaged the US patrol,” Corke mentioned.
Corke continued:
Now, as you pointed out this is not the first time we've heard about this, not even this week, if you can believe it. There was another engagement that happened on Wednesday when four Iranian boats came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze. US officials say the Iranians were acting in an unprofessional and unsafe manner in that instance as well.
CBS was the only network to report Wednesday’s incident during the morning broadcasts the following day. Norah O’Donnell discussed Iran’s harassment in a 40 second news brief on CBS This Morning.
Transcript below:
FNC
Special Report
August 25, 2016
6:14:15 PM Eastern
BRET BAIER: Tensions in the Persian Gulf on the rise tonight. New confrontations between the U.S. Navy and vessels from Iran, adding to a growing list of Iran's provocative actions against the US, but this time shots were fired. Correspondent Kevin Corke has the latest tonight from the White House. Good evening Kevin.
KEVIN CORKE: Hey, good evening to you Bret. Right, the latest in a long list of provocations by the Iranians. As you pointed out, the USS Squall firing three warning shots at an Iranian vessel that engaged the US patrol. And by last report that patrol was about 200 yards away from the Iranians when they were forced to fire those warning shots.
Now, as you pointed out this is not the first time we've heard about this, not even this week, if you can believe it. There was another engagement that happened on Wednesday when four Iranian boats came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze. US officials say the Iranians were acting in an unprofessional and unsafe manner in that instance as well. Bret.
