Archive · 16 Sep 2026
US Says It Destroyed Iranian Boats Near Strait
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 two boats.
The robot boat was a Saildrone, which is about 25 feet long and can operate by itself.
The United States uses Saildrones to watch activity at sea.
Iranian state media gave a different account, saying two fishing boats were attacked.
It also said several fishermen were missing.
The event happened near the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route.
About a week earlier, Iran reportedly captured a US underwater drone.
The United States said that underwater drone had malfunctioned and was an older model without classified equipment.
The US military said it opened fire and destroyed two Iranian boats attempting to seize an unmanned US vessel.
The incident occurred this week in waters off Iran, amid tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command identified the vessel as a roughly 25-foot Saildrone capable of operating autonomously.
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 United States military, US Central Command, Iranian boats and fishermen were involved or cited in reports.
- What
- The US said it destroyed two Iranian boats attempting to seize a US Saildrone; Iranian state media described an attack on fishing boats.
- When
- The incident was reported Tuesday and occurred earlier in the week, about a week after the reported underwater-drone incident.
- Where
- In waters off Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz; the Iranian account placed the boat attack in Hormozgan province.
- Why
- The US said the boats attempted to take possession of its unmanned vessel; the Iranian account characterized them as fishing boats under attack.
US Military Account
Iranian-Reported Account
Identity and actions of the boats
US Military Account
The US said two Iranian small boats attempted to seize a US unmanned surface vessel.
Iranian-Reported Account
Iranian state media described the vessels as fishing boats that came under attack in Hormozgan province.
Outcome of the incident
US Military Account
The US said it opened fire and destroyed both boats and that 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 incident
US Military Account
The US said the underwater drone 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.
- US account
- US Central Command said Iranian small boats attempted to take a US unmanned surface vessel and were stopped by force.
- Vessel involved
- The vessel was identified as a Saildrone measuring roughly 25 feet, or 8 meters, and capable of operating autonomously.
- Saildrone deployment
- US Central Command has used Saildrones in the region for several years to monitor maritime traffic.
- Iranian account
- Iranian state media reported that two fishing boats came under attack in Hormozgan province and that several fishermen were missing.
- Earlier incident
- Iranian state television reported that Iran’s navy captured a US Anduril Dive-LD underwater drone near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
- US description of underwater drone
- The US said the Anduril Dive-LD had malfunctioned, was an older model and carried no classified sonar or radar equipment.
- Broader tensions
- The reports described the incident as part of a more than six-month-old US-Iran conflict involving control of the Strait of Hormuz.
