US Deploys Sea Drones for First Time in Strike on Iranian Naval Facility

American forces carried out their first combat use of sea drones on Sunday, striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. According to U.S. Central Command, the operation involved multiple one-way attack surface drones launched against the site. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels carried out the strike at the Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking a new phase in how American forces are engaging in the ongoing conflict.

Officials Say Strike Limits Iran’s Shipping Threats

Central Command said the overnight operation reduced Iran’s ability to continue targeting commercial vessels moving through the region. The strike followed a separate wave of attacks earlier on Monday, when U.S. forces hit numerous sites across Iran, including air defense systems, radar installations, and equipment linked to missiles, drones, and small boats.

Escalation Continues on Multiple Fronts

The exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran has intensified in recent days, with Iran responding by targeting U.S. military positions in nearby countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman. Reports from Iranian state media indicated that U.S. strikes killed two people in an oil producing region in the country’s southwest on Monday. Iran also reportedly fired warning shots at vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that came after an earlier attack on a container ship in the same waterway.

Trump Addresses Control Over Key Waterway

Amid the escalation, President Trump said the United States would take responsibility for overseeing the Strait of Hormuz, describing plans to charge a fee on cargo ships passing through the route. He rejected claims that the strait had been closed, stating that it remained open regardless of Iran’s actions. The recent strikes have placed a previously signed interim agreement between the two countries in serious jeopardy.