Iran seizes U.S. underwater drone near Strait of Hormuz

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated in the maritime domain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it has seized control of an American unmanned underwater vehicle, an Anduril-manufactured ‘Dive-LD’ autonomous vehicle, at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. While the Pentagon claimed the vehicle suffered a technical failure the previous day and contained no classified data, reports indicate the advanced craft is designed for deep-sea mapping, reconnaissance, and mine countermeasures.

In addition to maritime developments, Iran conducted a missile attack targeting the Muwaffaq al-Salti airbase in Jordan, a key center for U.S. aerial operations in the region.

Concurrently, in Yemen, Ansar Allah officials stated that despite their control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, there are no plans to levy transit fees, asserting that commercial shipping remains safe in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Bradley Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia to coordinate responses regarding Ansar Allah's advances.