The United States has targeted Iranian naval facilities using kamikaze drones for the first time, marking a new chapter in unmanned warfare. The series of attacks over the weekend saw three Saronic Corsair drone boats strike a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base on 12 July, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
First combat use of sea drones
In a statement posted on Facebook, CENTCOM confirmed: 'Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations. Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.'
The operation was part of wider US actions against what it described as 'dozens' of Iranian targets amid escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a significant proportion of the world’s oil shipments pass. US President Donald Trump has claimed the country will extract fees from those transiting the strait, as Iran has done since the beginning of hostilities earlier this year.
Escalating tensions and strategic implications
The use of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) as strike weapons represents a significant evolution in naval warfare. Last month, a Saronic Corsair USV was used to help rescue the crew of a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter that crashed in the Gulf of Oman after the aircraft was reportedly brought down during hostilities with Iran. Military officials described it as the first known use of a drone boat to recover personnel during a search-and-rescue mission.
The strikes come as the US Navy increasingly integrates uncrewed vessels into operational roles. The Corsair drones, designed for one-way attack missions, provide a cost-effective and risk-free method to engage enemy targets without endangering American personnel.
Broader context of US-Iran hostilities
The operation underscores the growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz. Since the beginning of hostilities earlier this year, Iran has imposed fees on vessels transiting the strait, a move the US has challenged. The kamikaze drone strikes are the latest in a series of military actions aimed at curbing Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the region.
