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US officials suspect these one-way drones were targeting commercial vessels transiting regional waters or US forces operating in the vicinity.
Strait of Hormuz
Iran launched multiple drones towards the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, prompting a military response from the United States, which shot down at least four of them, according to a US official cited by CNN.
American officials believe the one-way attack drones were likely aimed either at commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway or at US military assets operating in the region.
The incident marks the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran despite an ongoing ceasefire and parallel diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
The United States and Iran have continued to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire that was intended to halt weeks of hostilities across the Middle East.
The conflict intensified earlier this week after Iran launched missiles and drones at US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. The US military said the incoming projectiles were intercepted and caused no significant damage. An Indian national was killed in a strike at Kuwait airport.
Saturday’s drone launch near the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which a large portion of the world’s oil supplies pass — is likely to raise fresh concerns about regional stability and maritime security.
Trump Says Iran’s Military Has Been ‘Totally Destroyed’
Amid the latest developments, US President Donald Trump claimed that American strikes had severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities, though he acknowledged that Tehran still retains some offensive capacity.
“We’ve totally destroyed their military,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News.
“Most of the drone factories have been knocked out, most of the launching pads have been knocked out, and most of the missile manufacturing areas have been knocked out. But they still have capacity. They have some missiles, they have some drones,” he said.
Trump estimated that Iran retains roughly “21% to 22%” of its missile arsenal.
“It’s a lot of missiles, but it’s not what it was when we first attacked,” he added.
The latest confrontation comes as negotiators from both countries continue efforts to reach a broader agreement aimed at ending hostilities and reducing tensions across the region.
While President Trump has recently expressed optimism that talks are progressing, Iranian officials have maintained that negotiations remain at a “deadlock” and have accused Washington of failing to meet key demands, including the release of frozen Iranian assets.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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