U.S. patrol craft fires flare over Iranian boat

From Barbara Starr
CNN Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The USS Typhoon fired a warning flare during a confrontation Thursday night with three small Iranian boats in the Persian Gulf, a U.S. military official said.

The Typhoon, a small patrol craft, was approached by the Iranian boats in a "taunting manner," the official said.

U.S. Navy officers conducted bridge-to-bridge communications with the Iranian boats and two then turned away, the official said. But one came within 200 yards of the Typhoon, prompting it to fire a warning flare. The Iranian boat then turned away.

The confrontation is not considered serious, the U.S. official said. E-mail to a friend

All About U.S. Navy • Iran • Persian Gulf