U.S. Strikes Iranian Naval Base With Sea Drones After Ceasefire Ends

U.S. Central Command employed three Corsair unmanned surface vessels to strike a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iran's Bandar Abbas naval base. The command confirmed on its X account on Monday that the action represented the first time American forces have used sea drones in combat operations.

The strikes occurred as part of a broader U.S. military campaign that hit dozens of Iranian targets on Sunday. President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire that began April 8 over while stating that Iran had agreed to continue negotiations.

The United States revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil on July 7. The Corsair is a 24-foot vessel built by Saronic with a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, a 1,000-pound payload capacity, and a top speed of 35 knots. The Navy has tested and operated the craft for various missions over the past two years.

Last month a Navy-operated Corsair recovered two soldiers after their Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. Task Force 59 began fielding Corsair drones in theater in late March, according to Capt. Tim Hawkins.

Unmanned Task Group 59.1, known as the Pioneers, was established in January 2024 to integrate unmanned systems into maritime operations under the Fifth Fleet. Earlier surveillance missions launched from Aqaba, Jordan, into the Red Sea have now expanded to include strike tasks.