1 hr ago
US Says It Destroyed Iranian Boats Over Drone Attempt
The United States said two small Iranian boats tried to take one of its robot boats.
The US military said it fired on and destroyed the Iranian boats.
The robot boat was a Saildrone that can travel and work by itself.
The United States uses Saildrones to watch activity at sea.
Iranian state media gave a different account, saying fishing boats were attacked and fishermen were missing.
The incident happened near the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route.
A week earlier, Iran said it had captured another US underwater drone.
The United States said that drone had stopped working and did not carry secret equipment.
The events are part of a wider conflict that has lasted more than six months.
The United States said it destroyed two small Iranian boats that attempted to take a US unmanned surface vessel.
The incident occurred in waters off Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US military.
US Central Command identified the vessel as a Saildrone, an approximately 25-foot autonomous craft used to monitor maritime traffic.
Iranian state media reported that two fishing boats were attacked in Hormozgan province and that several fishermen were missing.
The incident followed Iran’s reported capture of a malfunctioning US underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Who
- The US military, United States Central Command, Iranian boats and fishermen were involved or cited in reports.
- What
- The US said it destroyed two Iranian boats attempting to take a US Saildrone; Iran reported an attack on fishing boats and missing fishermen.
- Where
- In waters off Iran, including the area near the Strait of Hormuz and Hormozgan province.
- When
- The latest incident was reported Tuesday, following an earlier drone incident reported the previous week.
- Why
- The US said the boats attempted to take possession of its unmanned surface vessel; the Iranian account described the boats as fishing vessels under attack.
US Military Account
Iranian-Reported Account
What the boats were doing
US Military Account
The US said two Iranian small boats attempted to take possession of a US Saildrone.
Iranian-Reported Account
Iranian state media described the vessels as fishing boats that came under attack.
Result of the incident
US Military Account
The US said it responded forcefully and destroyed the two boats, while stating that all its surface drones remained accounted for.
Iranian-Reported Account
Iranian state media reported that several fishermen were missing after the boats were attacked.
Earlier underwater drone
US Military Account
The US said the underwater drone reported captured by Iran had malfunctioned, was an older model and carried no classified sonar or radar equipment.
Iranian-Reported Account
Iranian state television reported that Iran's navy captured the underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz.
Key facts
- US account
- US Central Command said two Iranian small boats tried to take a US unmanned surface vessel and were stopped by force.
- Vessel involved
- The vessel was identified as a Saildrone, approximately 25 feet, or 8 meters, long.
- Saildrone use
- US Central Command has used Saildrones in the region for several years to monitor maritime traffic.
- Iranian account
- Iranian state media said two fishing boats came under attack in Hormozgan province and that several fishermen were missing.
- Earlier drone incident
- Iranian state television reported that Iran captured a US underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz.
- US response on earlier drone
- The US said the underwater drone malfunctioned, was an older model and carried no classified sonar or radar equipment.
- Broader context
- The incidents occurred during a conflict described in the report as more than six months old, amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
Quotes
Captain Tim Hawkins
US Central Command spokesman
“Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a US unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded.”
NDTV
“remain fully accounted for.”
NDTV
Sources
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