U.S. undersea drone captured in Hormuz, Iran claims

Iran claims to have captured a sophisticated American underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz, while the US maintains that the device was outdated, malfunctioning, and effectively unusable. According to the US Central Command, the drone experienced technical difficulties prior to its seizure by Iranian forces. The US asserted that the unmanned vessel carried no classified equipment and did not gather sensitive information.

Iran's military reported the capture of an American-made underwater drone near the Strait of Hormuz. In contrast, the US military stated that the unmanned system had malfunctioned and was "dead in the water." US Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, informed Business Insider that a US underwater drone malfunctioned more than a day ago while conducting intelligence operations in the region.

The spokesperson added that the older model drone, which was not equipped with sensitive data or classified sonar or radar equipment, remained non-functional for an extended period after the malfunction. This incident is not Iran's first attempt to seize a US naval drone; in September 2022, the Iranian destroyer Jamaran captured two American drone boats in the Red Sea, later releasing them overboard after examination.

The US has been progressively incorporating unmanned capabilities into its operations around Iran and the Middle East. Initially, these drones were primarily used for intelligence gathering and tracking Iranian naval vessels. However, as tensions between the US and Iran have escalated this year, American forces have employed the drones for various tasks, such as clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and attacking an Iranian submarine and ship maintenance facility in July.

The same model of drone also rescued the crew of a downed US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter in regional waters.