One Iranian frigate unexpectedly hit another warship with a missile during an exercise. In this incident, 19 sailors got killed and 15 others got wounded, Iran’s navy started on Monday.
The unfortunate occurrence took place while training in the Gulf of Oman, a sensitive waterway that attaches to the Strait of Hormuz through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Iran regularly conducts exercises in the area.
The frigate Jamaran fired at a training target released by a support ship, the Konarak. However, the support ship stayed too near to the target and was hit, IRIB stated.
IRIB also stated the Dutch-made Konarak vessel, which was bought before Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, had been restored in 2018, and is equipped with four cruise missiles.
The incident took place at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the US since 2018, when the United States switched from a nuclear deal between major powers and Iran, and Washington re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.
