Investigation concludes Iranian ship capture result of 'failed leadership'

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."

Two officers have already been fired, and six other crew members could face discipline. Read more of the Navy report's finding at CNN.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up