Nets Censor U.S. Navy Ship Forced to Shoot Warning Shots at Iranian Vessels

Nicholas Fondacaro | August 26, 2016
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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

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