Story highlights Commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps naval forces receive medals

They detained 10 U.S. sailors who accidentally strayed into Iranian waters

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei praises the generals for being "brave"

(CNN) Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday awarded Fath medals to five commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps naval forces for the detention of 10 American sailors who trespassed into Iranian waters, according the official state news agency Press TV.

The boats had drifted off course, but one was also suffering engine trouble, making it impossible for the Americans to back off rapidly and return to international waters when armed Iranian naval boats approached them.

Iran said the Republican Guards detained the U.S. service members and questioned them about whether they were on an intelligence mission.

But an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman said afterward that the boats strayed into Iranian waters by accident. The sailors were later released to the American naval fleet in the Persian Gulf.

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