TEHRAN: An Iranian warship was hit by a “friendly fire” missile during naval exercises, killing 19 sailors, state media and the army said on Monday, amid tensions with the United States in Gulf waters. The incident involving the Konarak vessel occurred on Sunday afternoon near Bandar-e Jask, off the southern coast of the Islamic republic, state television said on its website. Tasnim news agency said in an English-language tweet that the Konarak was hit by the missile fired by another Iranian warship. Iran and its archenemy the United States have traded barbs in the past year over a spate of incidents involving their forces in the sensitive Gulf waters. Their latest high-seas confrontation came on April 15, when the United States claimed Iranian boats had “harassed” its navy ships in the waterway.

Source: Manila Times May 11, 2020 09:22 UTC