Iran claims to have seized American drone US says had ‘malfunctioned’
Centcom says ‘defective’ drone was surveilling regional waters and was not collecting sensitive data Iranian forces claimed to have seized an American underwater drone in the strait of Hormuz that the US military said had “malfunctioned” more than a day earlier. US Navy Capt Tim Hawkins, a United States Central Command spokesperson, said in a statement the drone was surveilling regional waters…
The United States military reported that an American underwater drone had malfunctioned in the Strait of Hormuz, not collecting sensitive data or carrying classified equipment. Iranian forces, however, claimed to have seized the drone at the entrance to the narrow waterway, describing it as a "complex intelligence and operational action at dawn".
The drone, an older model, was found to be defective and not equipped with any sensitive information or sophisticated sonar or radar systems. Iran has long maintained a blockade of the strategic strait, which transports approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, while the United States has imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated recently, with both sides exchanging fire and driving up global oil prices to levels not seen since July. The conflict has already resulted in thousands of deaths, according to Iran's official figures, a claim that has been broadly confirmed by independent monitoring groups.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- U.S. hits remaining parts of Iran's aviation sector with sanctions in latest move to isolate Tehran pbs.org
- Report in Iran: Military shoots down drone over Bandar Abbas israelnationalnews.com
