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Navy stops Iranian attempt to steal unmanned vessel in Arabian Gulf
[Wash Examiner] The U.S. Navy intervened and prevented an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy support ship from overtaking an unmanned surface vessel operated by the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Arabian Gulf on Monday and Tuesday.The U.S. 5th Fleet observed an IRGCN ship, the Shahid Bazaar, towing a Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel in an effort to take possession of it on Monday. U.S. Navy patrol coastal ship the USS Thunderbolt, which was nearby, responded immediately, while the 5th Fleet also launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, according to a statement from the fleet released on Tuesday The IRGCN eventually disconnected the towing line after about four hours without further incident. "We'll destroy it and the towing vehicle. Your move" "IRGCN’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. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. "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." Should the IRGCN have gotten away with the heist, the Saildrone Explorer USV was "equipped with sensors, radars and cameras for navigation and data collection," though it "does not store sensitive or classified information." CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla said in a statement, "The professionalism and competence of the crew of the USS Thunderbolt prevented Iran from this illegal action. This incident once again demonstrates Iran's continued destabilizing, illegal, and unprofessional activity in the Middle East." The United States and Iran are on opposite sides of a number of smaller active conflicts, while the Biden administration maintains its desire to reenter the previous nuclear agreement . Iran has provided Russia with drones that it intends to use in Ukraine , according to administration officials, while Iranian-backed militants in Syria engaged with U.S. forces earlier this week as well. Posted by: Frank G 2022-08-31 |
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