Post by : Shakul

Iran has unveiled what it describes as a vast underground military complex housing naval suicide drones and missiles, a move that highlights rising tensions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Footage broadcast by Iranian state television showed long underground tunnels lined with naval drones, anti-ship missiles and sea mines inside what officials called a “missile city.” The video also showed several weapons systems being launched, although the exact date of the recording was not disclosed.

The underground base reportedly stores unmanned surface vessels (USVs) — explosive-laden naval drones designed to strike ships at sea. These vessels travel on or near the water’s surface and detonate upon impact with a target.

The announcement comes as tensions continue to escalate in the Gulf region following the ongoing confrontation involving United States, Israel and Iran.

Maritime security agencies have reported several recent incidents involving naval drones targeting oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region. In one such attack on March 1, a crude oil tanker named MKD Vyom, registered in the Marshall Islands, was struck off the coast of Oman. The explosion caused significant damage to the vessel’s engine room and resulted in the death of one crew member.

In another incident days later, the Bahamas-flagged tanker Sonangol Namibe was hit near the port of Khor al Zubair in Iraq. Fortunately, all 23 crew members on board survived the attack.

Security analysts say such unmanned vessels are becoming an increasingly important tool in modern naval warfare. Similar drone boats have been used in conflicts involving Ukraine against Russian naval forces and by Iran-backed Houthi militants targeting ships in the Red Sea.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could be disrupted if hostilities escalate further. The narrow waterway handles nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil trade, making it one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the global energy market.

Military experts say the unveiling of the underground drone fleet signals Iran’s readiness to use asymmetric naval tactics to challenge larger naval forces and potentially disrupt global shipping if tensions in the region intensify.

#world news #Global News #Asia News