IRGC repeats US drone seizure claim in Strait of Hormuz; labels earlier 'REMUS 600' as 'Mk 18 Kingfish'

On Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran reiterated its claim of seizing a US underwater drone in the Strait of Hormuz, now identifying the second catch as a Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish. The IRGC spokesperson, Second Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, confirmed via social media that the naval force had captured the American Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

The Strait of Hormuz remains open but serves as a hunting ground for the IRGC Navy, targeting American submarines. In a previous claim, the IRGC described the captured system as a REMUS 600 belonging to the US military. The IRGC Navy stated that the operation targeted a second subsurface American terrorist submarine operating in the strategic waterway, executed through a coordinated and complex operation leveraging military intelligence oversight and electronic warfare capabilities.

The captured platform was initially identified as a REMUS 600, an intelligent, autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle allegedly conducting espionage missions inside the strait. The IRGC Navy will now hand over the submersible to specialist military technicians to analyze the system and recover stored data. The IRGC Navy maintains its stance that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and continues to take strong and relentless action against unauthorized traffic in the region.