Warning Shots Fired in the Suez Canal

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th
Fleet
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The Global Patriot, a ship on short term
charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, fired warning
shots
at a small boat approaching the ship as it was preparing to transit the
Suez Canal March 24. There were no reports from the Global Patriot of
casualties.

Global Patriot was approached by several boats while preparing to
transit the Suez Canal. The boats were hailed and warned by a native
Arabic speaker on the Global Patriot to advise them to turn away. Other
warning steps, including a signal flare, were used to caution the
boats.

One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of
warning shots 20-30 meters in front of the boat's bow. All shots were
accounted for as they entered the water.

The incident is under investigation. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet Command
is cooperating with Egyptian authorities, including the Suez Canal
authorities, through the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

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