US uses sea drones in combat for first time as it strikes Iranian naval base | Watch

The United States has used unmanned surface vessels in combat for the first time, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirming that three Corsair sea drones struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iran's Bandar Abbas Naval Base.

The attack, carried out on Sunday night, marks the first operational use of American sea drones in a military strike. CENTCOM also released footage of the operation, showing the unmanned vessels hitting the Iranian naval facility.

CENTCOM confirms strike on Bandar Abbas

In a post on X, CENTCOM said multiple one-way attack surface drones were used to target the facility.

"Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran," the command said.

According to CENTCOM, the operation was aimed at reducing Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the region.

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"Last night's strikes degraded Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial shipping."

US-Iran conflict intensifies

The strike comes as Washington and Tehran continue exchanging attacks across the Middle East. The US has targeted several military sites inside Iran, while Tehran has responded by launching attacks on US bases in countries including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Oman.

Earlier on Monday, the US military said it had struck dozens of Iranian targets, including air defence systems, radar sites, missile and drone equipment, and small boats.

Trump announces Hormuz security plan

The latest military action came hours after US President Donald Trump said the United States was "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz and would act as its security provider.

Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that the US would charge a 20 per cent fee on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz to cover the costs of securing the strategic waterway.

He also dismissed Iranian claims that the strait had been closed, saying it would remain open "with or without Iran."

Tensions threaten fragile US-Iran deal

The latest exchange of attacks has placed the interim US-Iran agreement signed in June under renewed strain.

According to Iran's Fars and Tasnim news agencies, US strikes on Monday killed two people in an oil-producing region in southwestern Iran near the borders with Kuwait and Iraq. Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that Tehran fired warning shots at two vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation follows an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, which triggered the fresh round of military exchanges.