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| The US Fifth Fleet operates across the Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean [File: AFP] |
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Two female US sailors have been shot dead and a third critically wounded in their barracks in Bahrain, the US military says.
The base in the Jufair region, east of the capital Manama, was temporarily closed after the incident on Monday and an investigation begun.
"There are no indications of terrorism or a base intrusion. Initial reports indicate the incident involved US military personnel only," a statement from the US Navy's Fifth Fleet said. The shootings took place in the barracks on the US Naval Support Activity Bahrain base around 5am (0200GMT).
The wounded sailor is in a critical condition at a local hospital.
Non-Nato ally
The Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain to conduct operations across 19.4m sq km of the region that includes the Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.
The small Gulf state has been designated as a major non-Nato ally by Washington and also has a free trade agreement with the US.
Around 5,000 US citizens, mostly service personnel, are based in the kingdom.
Earlier this month four Bahrain nationals were charged with with belonging to al-Qaeda after reports that a cell was plotting attacks against US targets in the region.
Three of the suspects are due in court on Tuesday, while a fourth remains at large outside the country.
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