'Attempted to steal a sea drone': US military destroys two small Iranian boats
The US military reported destroying two small Iranian boats that attempted to steal a 'Saildrone' unmanned surface vessel in waters off Iran. This incident follows a previous claim by Iran of capturing a US underwater drone, which the US stated was malfunctioning and non-sensitive.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing tensions and potential for conflict between the US and Iran in the Middle East, particularly concerning maritime security and surveillance technology. It also underscores the increasing use of autonomous vessels in military operations and the challenges of de-escalation.
The US military on Tuesday (local time) said it opened fire and destroyed two small Iranian boats this week trying to "steal" a drone ship in the waters off Iran.“Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a US unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded," Associated Press quoted CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying.CENTCOM oversees US military operations in the Middle East and has conducted operations during the ongoing war with Iran.Hawkins described the drone involved as a “Saildrone”, a small craft roughly 25 feet (8 metres) long that can operate autonomously. He added that all of the command's surface drones “remain fully accounted for.”CENTCOM has used Saildrones in the region for several years to monitor maritime traffic.
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