France Warns Iran on Gunboat Attacks
The commander of French naval forces in the Persian Gulf warned today his warships will fire on Iranian gunboats that refuse to break off attacks on neutral merchant ships when French vessels come to the rescue.
Guy Labouerie, speaking to reporters aboard the Marne, the flagship for the 22-ship French Indian Ocean Fleet, said he was spelling out French rules of engagement in the area following an incident last weekend between the French corvette Dupleix and Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz.
After an Iranian attack on the Liberian-registered merchant vessel Rainbow, the Dupleix ordered three Iranian gunboats to break off their attack or they would face French fire. The gunboats obeyed the command.
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