The United States military has officially confirmed the use of one-way attack sea drones in combat for the first time, targeting a submarine and ship maintenance facility at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The operation, which took place on Sunday, involved three Corsair drones. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Monday that this deployment marks the inaugural use of American sea drones in active combat operations. According to officials, the strikes were intended to degrade Iran's capacity to continue targeting commercial shipping.
CENTCOM released footage documenting the attack, showing the sea drones detonating near two piers, resulting in fires and plumes of smoke rising over the facility. The Corsair, a 24-foot diesel-powered autonomous surface vessel, is manufactured by the Texas-based firm Saronic Technologies. The company notes that these drones are designed to be launched at sea, allowing larger naval vessels to deploy and retrieve them without the need to return to port. Previously, the US military utilized a Corsair drone last month to assist in the rescue of two US Army aviators after their Apache attack helicopter was downed by Iran.
In a related development, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) announced that it will enforce a maritime blockade on Iran starting Tuesday at 2000 GMT on July 14. This blockade encompasses all Iranian ports, oil terminals, and coastal regions and applies to all vessel traffic regardless of flag. The JMIC warned that any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization faces interception, diversion, and capture, with non-compliant vessels subject to the use of force. However, the center clarified that neutral transit through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations will remain unimpeded.
