Iran Releases U.S. Sailors Detained in the Persian Gulf

News coming from the Middle East this morning indicates that all 10 of the U.S. Navy sailors that were detained yesterday for passing through Iran’s territorial waters have been safely released.

The nine men and one woman became a source of concern for America yesterday, when it was confirmed by the Pentagon that Iranian officials diverted their two boats to a base on Farsi Island during a training mission. BBC reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that the sailors were let go following clarifications that the incursion was accidental and are asking for a formal apology.

“The Americans have undertaken not to repeat such mistakes,” the IRGC said on state media. “The captured marines were released in international waters under the supervision of the IRGC Navy.”

The Navy said that there were no indications that the ten sailors were harmed while in custody, and that they would investigate the circumstances behind the technical problem on one boat that is believed to be the cause for their entry into Iranian waters. The Navy’s statement also mentioned that the officers were transferred from their boats by U.S. aircraft, while other sailors were left to guide the vessels to their destination in Bahrain.

[h/t NBC]
[Image via screengrab]

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