U.S. forces shot down multiple Iranian attack drones approaching commercial shipping lanes in the Gulf, a defense official said Friday on condition of anonymity.
The engagements occurred as one-way unmanned aircraft threatened tankers transiting choke points vital to global oil supply.
Central Command has not released footage but said destroyers used shipboard interceptors to prevent drones from reaching merchant hulls.
Mariners reported hearing distant detonations and receiving naval advisories to dim identification lights during night transits.
The action aligns with Washington’s stated policy of protecting freedom of navigation while its broader air campaign targets Iranian military infrastructure ashore.
Analysts warned that crowded airspace increases misidentification risks for neutral crews caught between drone swarms and defensive fire.
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/west-asia-war-donald-trump-usa-iran-ceasefire-israel-lebanon-attacks-strait-of-hormuz-june-13-2026/article71096410.ece