Us Navy Thwarts Iranian Attempt To Capture Us Maritime Drone In Persian Gulf

A U.S. Navy coastal patrol vessel, the USS Thunderbolt, “was operating nearby and responded immediately,” the Navy said. After the Iranians attached a line to the maritime drone, US forces in the region contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back, a US defense official said.
The U.S. Navy patrol boat then moved closer to the maritime drone, and the U.S. 5th Fleet launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Bahrain and positioned it over the drone, the release and a U.S. defense official said. After the US responded with both a coastal ship and a Sea Hawk helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected its tow line from the US drone and departed the area four hours later, the statement said. The US Navy then resumed operations “without incident,” the statement added. The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, 5th Fleet and Combined Arms, called the IRGCN’s actions “egregious, unwarranted and inconsistent with the conduct of a professional naval force,” in a statement on The incident. “U.S. naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits while promoting the rules-based international order throughout the region,” Cooper said in the statement. General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command that oversees the US military presence in the Middle East, reacted strongly, saying Iran’s actions were illegal. “The professionalism and skill of the USS Thunderbolt crew deterred Iran from this illegal action,” Kurilla said in a statement. “This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.” The maritime drone that the IRGCN attempted to take is “US government property and equipped with sensors, radar and cameras for navigation and data collection,” the statement said. The drone “does not store sensitive or confidential information,” the statement added.

title: “Us Navy Thwarts Iranian Attempt To Capture Us Maritime Drone In Persian Gulf Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-01” author: “Terry Christensen”

A U.S. Navy coastal patrol vessel, the USS Thunderbolt, “was operating nearby and responded immediately,” the Navy said. After the Iranians attached a line to the maritime drone, US forces in the region contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back, a US defense official said.
The U.S. Navy patrol boat then moved closer to the maritime drone, and the U.S. 5th Fleet launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Bahrain and positioned it over the drone, the release and a U.S. defense official said. After the US responded with both a coastal ship and a Sea Hawk helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected its tow line from the US drone and departed the area four hours later, the statement said. The US Navy then resumed operations “without incident,” the statement added. The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, 5th Fleet and Combined Arms, called the IRGCN’s actions “egregious, unwarranted and inconsistent with the conduct of a professional naval force,” in a statement on The incident. “U.S. naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits while promoting the rules-based international order throughout the region,” Cooper said in the statement. General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command that oversees the US military presence in the Middle East, reacted strongly, saying Iran’s actions were illegal. “The professionalism and skill of the USS Thunderbolt crew deterred Iran from this illegal action,” Kurilla said in a statement. “This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.” The maritime drone that the IRGCN attempted to take is “US government property and equipped with sensors, radar and cameras for navigation and data collection,” the statement said. The drone “does not store sensitive or confidential information,” the statement added.

title: “Us Navy Thwarts Iranian Attempt To Capture Us Maritime Drone In Persian Gulf Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-08” author: “Tom Sardinha”

A U.S. Navy coastal patrol vessel, the USS Thunderbolt, “was operating nearby and responded immediately,” the Navy said. After the Iranians attached a line to the maritime drone, US forces in the region contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back, a US defense official said.
The U.S. Navy patrol boat then moved closer to the maritime drone, and the U.S. 5th Fleet launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Bahrain and positioned it over the drone, the release and a U.S. defense official said. After the US responded with both a coastal ship and a Sea Hawk helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected its tow line from the US drone and departed the area four hours later, the statement said. The US Navy then resumed operations “without incident,” the statement added. The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, 5th Fleet and Combined Arms, called the IRGCN’s actions “egregious, unwarranted and inconsistent with the conduct of a professional naval force,” in a statement on The incident. “U.S. naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits while promoting the rules-based international order throughout the region,” Cooper said in the statement. General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command that oversees the US military presence in the Middle East, reacted strongly, saying Iran’s actions were illegal. “The professionalism and skill of the USS Thunderbolt crew deterred Iran from this illegal action,” Kurilla said in a statement. “This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.” The maritime drone that the IRGCN attempted to take is “US government property and equipped with sensors, radar and cameras for navigation and data collection,” the statement said. The drone “does not store sensitive or confidential information,” the statement added.

title: “Us Navy Thwarts Iranian Attempt To Capture Us Maritime Drone In Persian Gulf Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-12” author: “Dewey Murchison”

A U.S. Navy coastal patrol vessel, the USS Thunderbolt, “was operating nearby and responded immediately,” the Navy said. After the Iranians attached a line to the maritime drone, US forces in the region contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back, a US defense official said.
The U.S. Navy patrol boat then moved closer to the maritime drone, and the U.S. 5th Fleet launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Bahrain and positioned it over the drone, the release and a U.S. defense official said. After the US responded with both a coastal ship and a Sea Hawk helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected its tow line from the US drone and departed the area four hours later, the statement said. The US Navy then resumed operations “without incident,” the statement added. The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, 5th Fleet and Combined Arms, called the IRGCN’s actions “egregious, unwarranted and inconsistent with the conduct of a professional naval force,” in a statement on The incident. “U.S. naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits while promoting the rules-based international order throughout the region,” Cooper said in the statement. General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command that oversees the US military presence in the Middle East, reacted strongly, saying Iran’s actions were illegal. “The professionalism and skill of the USS Thunderbolt crew deterred Iran from this illegal action,” Kurilla said in a statement. “This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.” The maritime drone that the IRGCN attempted to take is “US government property and equipped with sensors, radar and cameras for navigation and data collection,” the statement said. The drone “does not store sensitive or confidential information,” the statement added.