HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? – AT 11:14 A.M. ET:  An American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was struck by a Philippines-flagged cargo ship off Japan.  A number of Americans are injured or missing.  From CNN:

Tokyo (CNN) Seven US sailors are missing and the commanding officer of a US destroyer is among the injured after the warship and a merchant ship collided off the coast of Japan, the US Navy said.

The smaller guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald suffered severe damage to its starboard side.
"The collision affected Fitzgerald's forward starboard side above and below the water line, causing significant damage and associated flooding to two berthing spaces, a machinery space, and the radio room," according to a statement from US 7th Fleet.

The statement hinted that the missing sailors could be trapped in the damaged area of the destroyer.

"It remains uncertain how long it will take to gain access to the spaces once the ship is pier side ... to methodically continue the search for the missing," the statement said.

And...

The warship was towed back to Yokosuka, escorted by a Japanese coast guard ship, naval officials said. It arrived at port late Saturday, when divers began inspecting the damage.

Earlier, the ship's commander, Cmdr. Bryce Benson, was evacuated by a Japanese naval helicopter while US military copters evacuated two injured US sailors. All three are in stable condition at the US Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, said Cmdr. Ron Flanders, public affairs officer for US Naval Forces Japan.

And...

The merchant vessel involved is the ACX Crystal, a container ship flagged in the Philippines, officials said. It is chartered by Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and owned by Dainichi-Invest Corporation, NYK said.

COMMENT:  Thus far there is no evidence of anything terror-related in the incident, although it does seem strange that a cargo ship would strike a U.S. Navy vessel in what looks like a direct hit to the destroyer's starboard side.

The offending ship is Philippines-flagged, and there is a substantial Muslim insurrection in the Philippines.  I mention that only as a point of information. 

There will be a naval inquiry, which should include a full background check of those in charge of the cargo ship at the time of the incident.   

June 17,  2017