Iran Tried to Capture US Drone Ship, Pentagon Says

Screenshot of a video showing Iranian support ship Shahid Baziar towing a US Navy Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel in international waters of the Arabian Gulf on Aug. 30. U.S. Navy photo

The U.S. Navy has foiled an attempt by Iran to capture an unmanned U.S. drone ship in the Persian Gulf, U.S. military officials confirmed on Aug. 30.

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet late on Aug. 29 discovered that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ship was towing a Navy Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel (USV) to detain it. A coastal patrol boat, the USS Thunderbolt, immediately responded and the 5th Fleet launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Bahrain, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.