JEBEL ALI, United Arab Emirates, July 16 (UPI) -- A U.S. military supply ship fired on a small vessel in the Persian Gulf Monday, U.S. officials said.
Officials said the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock fired on what the officials described as a "small, white pleasure craft" about 10 miles from the Dubai port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirate.
CNN reported one person aboard the approaching vessel died.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said a security team aboard the vessel fired on the vessel after it "disregarded warnings and rapidly approached the ship," the Defense Department said in a release.
The Rappahannock's crew repeatedly tried to warn the vessel's operators to turn away from its approach, naval officials said.
The sailors aboard the Rappahannock used non-lethal, preplanned responses to warn the vessel before resorting to lethal force, firing rounds from a .50-caliber machine gun, the officials said.
The incident is under investigation, the release said. The Defense Department news release did not mention any casualties although news reports said one person died.
