Warning shots fired in prior Iranian provocation of U.S. ships

From CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre

WASHINGTON (CNN) - There have been two other incidents in recent weeks which small Iranian patrol boats maneuvered provocatively close to U.S. warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz - including one in which warning shots were fired - U.S. Navy officials told CNN Friday.

Both confrontations occurred in December.

In the first incident, Iranian patrol boats confronted the amphibious assault ship USS Whidbey Island while the ship was entering the Strait on Dec. 19, while en route into the Persian Gulf.

Navy officials said it fired warning shots to warn the boats away.