U.S. military officials on Tuesday confirmed Iran was caught trying to capture an unmanned U.S. drone ship in the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet at around 11 p.m. on Monday discovered an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ship towing a Navy Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel to detain it. A coastal ship, the USS Thunderbolt, immediately responded and the 5th Fleet launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, according to a statement from Central Command.
The Iranian regime’s “actions were flagrant, unwarranted and inconsistent with the behavior of a professional maritime force,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. “U.S. naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows while promoting rules-based international order throughout the region.”…