Two U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf have suffered coronavirus outbreaks, the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet announced early Friday.
The ships are likely to be out of action in Bahrain for a few days as tensions with Iran escalate following US airstrikes by Iranian-backed forces in Syria.
NAVY ASSAULT SHIP BADLY DAMAGED IN FIRE MUST BE SUNNED: LEGISLATORS
The amphibious transport ship USS San Diego was on a planned port visit to Bahrain when the testing began. About a “dozen” crew members tested positive, the Navy said.
The guided missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea has been forced to make an unplanned port call, also to Bahrain, home of the U.S. 5th Fleet, officials say. There are ‘several people under investigation’, the navy said without disclosing more details.
There are 600 sailors and marines aboard the USS San Diego and 380 sailors aboard the USS Philippine Sea.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
There are other American warships in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, such as the destroyed USS John Paul Jones and the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, home of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.