In first, US uses sea drones in combat in Iran strikes: CENTCOM

US forces used unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for the first time in combat operations, striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran on Sunday, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, with CENTCOM stating the strikes "degraded Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial shipping." A 24-second unclassified video posted by CENTCOM shows the drones approaching shoreline infrastructure and explosions. This milestone comes after CENTCOM launched a fresh wave of offensive strikes against Iran, following President Donald Trump's declaration that a ceasefire with Iran is "OVER." While this is the first combat use of the Corsair vessel, it is not the first high-profile role for the drone in the region; last month, Task Force 59 used a Corsair to assist in the rescue of two crew members from a downed US Army AH-64 Apache off the coast of Oman. The Corsair can carry up to 1,000 lbs over 1,000 nautical miles.