U.S. Navy fires on approaching motor boat amid soaring tensions

FP MidEast:

A U.S. Navy refueling ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates shot at an approaching vessel on Monday, increasing tensions in the region. The USNS Rappahannock, opened fire on what has been determined to be a small Indian fishing boat, after repeated warnings to stop its approach. An Indian fisherman was killed, and three of the crewmembers were injured. The Indian foreign ministry announced its embassy in Abu Dhabi is investigating the incident. The United States has been ramping up its presence in the Persian Gulf as tensions increase over Iran's nuclear development program. Iran continues to threaten to close the Straight of Hormuz, a vital waterway. Iran criticized the United States over Monday's shooting saying, "We have announced time and again that the presence of foreign forces can be a threat to regional security." In response to increasing tensions, the U.S. officials have announced that the Pentagon is building a missile-defense radar station in Qatar at an unspecified site. Qatar houses the largest U.S. military airbase in the region. The United States is also organizing minesweeping exercises set to begin in September to address threats from Iran to mine the Straight of Hormuz.