US Uses Kamikaze Drones in Iran Strike

The United States has employed unmanned kamikaze boats in combat operations for the first time, striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. According to Central Command, the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping. The operation involved three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, which sped into jetties at the port of Bandar Abbas naval base, causing huge explosions and smoke to billow over the port.

The vessels, developed by Texas-based Saronic in 2022, can carry up to 1,000lbs of payload at speeds of over 35 knots. This development comes amid renewed hostilities between the US and Iran, with both sides engaging in a series of strikes and counter-strikes in the region. The conflict has led to increased tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes.

The US military carried out a third night of strikes against Iran on Monday, with President Donald Trump reinstating a blockade of Iranian shipping and proposing charging a 20% fee to guard the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded to the US strikes by targeting US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, destroying radar systems in Oman, and hitting fuel tanks and ammo depots in Jordan. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also claimed responsibility for striking two Emirati oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one person and injuring eight others.

US Centcom said on Tuesday that there are now more than 50,000 service members deployed across the Middle East. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that Washington had asked Kyiv for help in fighting swarms of Iranian drones, reflecting the changing shape of modern warfare. The conflict has led to a volatile situation, with the potential for further violence and instability in the region.

Despite efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, the situation remains uncertain, with both sides appearing to be dug in for a prolonged period of hostilities.