WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. military says it has opened fire and destroyed two Iranian boats whose crews were trying to steal a drone ship in the waters off Iran.
“Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a U.S. unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, U.S. Central Command spokesman, said Tuesday.
Iranian state media reported Monday that a pair of fishing boats came under attack in Hormozgan province on Iran’s southern coast and that several fishermen were reported missing, citing a provincial official.
Hawkins said the drone involved is a “Saildrone” — a small, roughly 25-foot (8-meter) craft — that can operate by itself. U.S. Central Command has been using them in the region for several years to surveil maritime traffic.
Hawkins said all of the command’s surface drones “remain fully accounted for.”