U.S. Deploys Sea Drones in Combat Strike on Iranian Naval Facility

U.S. Central Command announced that three unmanned surface vessels – Corsair sea‑drones – struck a submarine and ship‑maintenance facility at the Bandar Abbas naval base in Iran. The attack, carried out on July 12‑13, marked the first time American forces used one‑way attack marine drones in combat. CENTCOM said the strikes degraded Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The drone attacks were part of a broader wave of U.S. air and missile strikes that began a third consecutive night of operations against Iranian military sites, aiming to limit Tehran’s capacity to threaten vessels transiting the vital waterway. President Donald Trump also announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade and a 20 percent toll on ships passing the strait.

Multiple reports confirmed the use of the sea drones, described them as 24‑foot, diesel‑powered craft capable of high speed and long range, and noted that the operation follows earlier U.S. strikes that hit dozens of Iranian targets across the country.