There have been tensions between the US and Iran in recent years, with relations especially frayed during the previous US administration. The concern of a possible conflict or world war has since been raised when the US has resorted to firing warning shots at an Iranian military ship.
Fears of a possible all-out conflict have been raised as the US Coast Guard fired 30 warning shots at 13 armed Iranian speedboats at the Strait of Hormuz. According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, the Coast Guard fired the shots following some of the Iranian vessels were steering within 150 yards of six US military ships that were escorting the guided-missile submarine Georgia. This incident marks the second time in a span of two weeks that a US ship has had to open fire to warn off Iranian vessels.
As to whether he believed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was trying to provoke the US Navy, Kirby declined to comment. Kirby noted that the US Coast Guard cutter fired the warning shots from a .50 caliber machine gun before the Iranian ships left. The Iranian vessels were maneuvering at high speed towards six US Navy ships that were escorting the USS Georgia as it sailed on the surface.
“Sadly, harassment by the IRGC Navy is not a new phenomenon. It is something that all of our commanding officers and crews of our vessels are trained for. This activity is the kind of activity that could lead to somebody getting hurt and could lead to a real miscalculation there in the region, and that doesn’t serve anybody’s interests,” said Kirby.
Another situation that could potentially start a major war is the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The head of Ukraine’s state security service Ivan Bakanov, announced Tuesday that there has been no change in Russian military presence in its eastern region. This is in contrast to Russia’s statement last April that it would begin to pull out its troops and units from Crimea.
Despite the reports, Ukrainian Major General Serhii Kryvonos warned that the country must remain prepared as Russia may try to engage at any time. Maj. Gen. Kryvonos said he does not believe that an open conflict would be ruled out even after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of making a partial withdrawal of troops at the eastern border.