American Ship Fires on Egyptian Boat in Suez Canal, One Listed as Dead

An investigation has been launched following an incident in which an American cargo ship contracted by the U.S. Navy fired on a small Egyptian boat that failed to heed several warnings about approaching the ship.

The incident occurred in the Suez Canal late Monday evening and according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, “The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker using a bullhorn to warn them to turn away. A warning flare was then fired. One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20-30 yards in front of the bow."

According to the U.S. all shots had been accounted for and nobody on the small boat had been hit but an Egyptian security official at the canal said that a man in the boat was killed and three others wounded.

It is common for small boats to approach large civilian ships to sell cigarettes, drinks and other products. Initial reports indicated that the men in the small boat may have thought the ship was civilian because it does not resemble a military vessel.

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