Pentagon reveals first use of armed maritime drones in operation against Iran

The United States military has for the first time deployed armed maritime drones in operations against Iran, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.

In a statement posted on X, the command said that US forces employed not only aerial drones but also, for the first time, armed maritime drones. 

“CENTCOM forces struck Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time,” the command stressed.

https://t.co/V84pTWxDwH

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026

No details have yet been provided regarding the scale of their deployment or the effectiveness of the strikes carried out using the systems.

CENTCOM also reiterated its claim that Iran “does not control” the Strait of Hormuz.

By Jeyhun Aghazada