Iranian Missile Lands 2 Miles From Reflagged Kuwait Ships : Was Fired From Occupied Area in Iraq, Official Says

A missile fired from Iranian-held territory landed just two miles from U.S.-flagged Kuwaiti tankers today, sources said, and the Italian Cabinet decided to send a naval task force to the Persian Gulf to protect its shipping.

A senior official of a gulf nation government said that the missile, possibly a Chinese-made Silkworm, was fired from Iranian-occupied territory in southern Iraq and that it fell harmlessly in waters off the coast of Kuwait.

The missile attack at the extreme northern end of the gulf would be the first use of the Chinese-built Silkworm, which Iran also has deployed at the Strait of Hormuz at the southern extremity of the waterway. The weapon, which carries a 1,000-pound warhead, is considered one of the most serious threats to gulf shipping in Iran’s arsenal.

Tankers Were at Anchor

The missile hit just two miles from where two reflagged Kuwaiti tankers were anchored for loading, said Kuwait-based shipping officials.

In Santa Barbara, Calif., presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater was asked about the reported attack and said, “I don’t think it signifies any significant change.”

“We can’t even confirm it was a Silkworm and there have been a number of other missile firings by Iran during the war,” said Fitzwater, who is in California while President Reagan vacations at his ranch north of Santa Barbara.

“We continue to be concerned about the Silkworms, particularly as they threaten United States naval escorts and U.S.-flagged vessels in the gulf, but I wouldn’t issue any threat,” he said.

Convoy on Its Way

The report of the missile firing came one day after the latest U.S. convoy of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers steamed away from the area on a return trip down the Persian Gulf.

The seventh convoy of re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers and U.S. warships left Thursday from Kuwait, and Western diplomats reached by telephone in Kuwait said the convoy was probably well south of the area when the missile struck at 4 a.m. today.

Shipping sources said the missile hit two miles from the Al Ahmadi oil loading terminal, where the two reflagged Kuwaiti tankers were anchored, and one mile from Mina Al Abdullah, Kuwait’s main shipping port just south of the oil terminal.

Range of 50 Miles

The official, who refused to have his name used or his country identified, said the missile was fired from the vicinity of Faw peninsula, in the southern end of the Shatt Al Arab waterway.

There have been reports that Iran had installed Silkworm batteries in Faw, which it captured in February, 1986. The missiles have a maximum range of 50 miles.

The Italian Cabinet decided today to send a naval task force to the gulf to protect its shipping after an Italian ship was attacked Thursday by Iranian speedboats.

Italian Defense Minister Valerio Zanone said the Cabinet decided unanimously to send a naval task force to the gulf as soon as Parliament is informed, which was expected to be done today.

“In light of the new situation created yesterday, the Navy will provide its own group to guarantee the protection of merchant ships,” Zanone told reporters.