Investigation concludes Iranian ship capture result of 'failed leadership'

A report by military investigators found that the 10 navy men captured by Iranians was due to failed leadership on all levels.
(Image credit: Scott Nelson/Getty Images)

The incident involving the capture of 10 American sailors by Iran in January was the result of "failed leadership at multiple levels from the tactical to the operational," according to a new report by military investigators released on Thursday. The numerous mistakes ranged from the crews being poorly prepared to the boats failing to be properly maintained to sailors' conduct after being captured not adhering to military standards, including an incident where one sailor disobeyed a direct order.

Additionally, the sailors apparently swung off course almost immediately and had no idea where they were when one of the boats suffered mechanical problems. However, the report found that while the Americans didn't break international laws, the Iranians did by impeding the boat's "innocent passage."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.