The United States for the first time used uncrewed surface vessels in strikes on Iranian targets, introducing autonomous naval strike capabilities into direct operations against Tehran, according to people familiar with the matter.
The deployment of the uncrewed attack boats, often referred to as drone boats, occurred during the most recent round of U.S. strikes, two U.S. officials confirmed, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations. The vessels were used alongside other U.S. assets, though the precise targets and full scope of the operation remain classified.
The move represents a notable evolution in American tactics in the Middle East, where the Pentagon has increasingly relied on unmanned systems to conduct high-risk missions while minimizing the exposure of U.S. personnel. Uncrewed surface vessels can carry explosives, conduct swarm maneuvers or loiter in contested waters — capabilities that have drawn comparisons to Ukrainian tactics against Russian forces in the Black Sea.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions with Iran, which has continued to support proxy militias across the region, including attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by the Houthis in Yemen. U.S. officials have described the operations as necessary to deter further Iranian aggression and disrupt its network of allied groups.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the specific use of uncrewed boats, citing operational security. A spokesman said only that U.S. forces “continue to take necessary action to protect American interests and partners in the region.”
Iranian state media has not yet acknowledged the reported use of the uncrewed systems, though Tehran has routinely condemned U.S. military actions in the area as aggressive and destabilizing.
Defense analysts have long predicted that uncrewed vessels would play a growing role in future naval conflicts, particularly in the strategically vital waters of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
