The US Navy prevented a support ship from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) from capturing an unmanned surface vessel belonging to the US 5th Fleet in the Arabian Gulf on Monday night, the navy announced on Tuesday.
On Monday night, the US 5th Fleet spotted an IRGC support ship called Shahid Baziar towing a Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel. The US Navy patrol coastal ship USS Thunderbolt was operating nearby and responded immediately.
An MH-60S Sea Hawk was also launched from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, based in Bahrain.
The IRGC vessel disconnected the towing line and departed the area about four hours later. The US Navy resumed operations without further incident.
Source: Jeruslaem Post - Photo: US Navy