Video footage reveals an Iranian drone carrier engulfed in flames following a US military strike.
The burning carrier was showcased in black-and-white visuals released by the US’ military’s Central Command. The attack on the carrier was not immediately acknowledged by the Iranian military amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The drone carrier, known as the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, is a modified container ship equipped with a 180-meter-long runway for drones. Reports indicate that the vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without requiring refueling in ports, as confirmed during its inauguration in 2025.
Adm Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, characterized the carrier as being “roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier” and confirmed its current state as being “on fire.”
In recent events, an American submarine sank an Iranian frigate near Sri Lanka as it returned from a joint exercise with the Indian navy, resulting in the loss of at least 87 sailors.
Under the cover of darkness on Friday morning, B-2 stealth bombers targeted deeply buried ballistic missile launchers within Iran with dozens of 2,000-pound “penetrator” bombs, as confirmed by Cooper.
Cooper further mentioned the strike on Iran’s Space Command, aimed at diminishing their capability to pose a threat to Americans.
Accompanying Cooper, US Secretary for Defence Pete Hegseth hinted at an impending increase in bombardments, emphasizing enhancements in fighter squadrons, defensive capabilities, and more frequent bomber operations.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Defence Ministry reported intercepting a drone attack targeted at the Al Udeid Air Base, which serves as the forward headquarters of the US Central Command.
Saudi Arabia successfully intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles aimed at the Prince Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh, where US forces are stationed, according to a spokesperson from the Saudi Ministry of Defence.
Air raid sirens rang out in Bahrain as Iranian strikes targeted two hotels and a residential building, with no reported casualties. In Kuwait, where six US soldiers lost their lives last Sunday, the Kuwaiti army activated air defenses in response to missile and drone attacks breaching the country’s airspace.
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