Iranian media have put out photos and videos of the aftermath of Sunday’s incident, with footage released by Jam-e Jam Daily showing smoke billowing from the Konarak light support vessel.
Watch: #Iran #Konarak logistic shop on fire apparently after being struck by friendly fire during naval exercise in Gulf of Oman. 19 were killed, the vessel damaged, towed to nearby harbor. #ناوچه_کنارک pic.twitter.com/XDxDQBbGYC
— Habib Abdolhossein (@HAbdolhossein) May 11, 2020
Photos of the vessel as it’s towed by tugboats back to port show it to be almost completely destroyed, and taking in water. Media have also released the portraits of the 19 sailors killed in the incident.
Konarak seen heavily damaged in last night friendly fire
— Farzana Shah (@Jana_Shah) May 11, 2020
19 have lost their lives in this accident.#Iran, #Iranian Navy#Chabahar https://t.co/JrszufHhlF pic.twitter.com/ReXzwxEhJP
Sputnik reported early Monday that the Konarak was accidentally struck by the Jamaran, a Moudge-class frigate, during live fire exercises near Bandar-e-Jask, southern Iran in the Gulf of Oman. The incident is thought to have involved an anti-ship missile.
An investigation into the incident is underway, Iran's Navy says.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US in the region, and repeated back and forth threats between US and Iranian military officials urging one another's ships to maintain their distance following claims by the US Navy last month that Iranian gunboats had 'harassed' its warships as they sailed near Iran's borders. In late April, US President Donald Trump warned that he had "instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in turn, warned Washington to "stop hatching plots against Iran."