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The incident comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran enter a new phase as the US military presence increases in the region to counter air threats and secure shipping lanes.
Following recent events, CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper emphasized that Iran’s continued nuisance and threat on the high seas and airspace will no longer be tolerated. CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins outlined the details of today’s two military conflicts. According to reports, on February 3, an American F-35C fighter jet attacked and shot down an Iranian Shahad-139 drone in attack mode heading toward the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
The aircraft carrier was stationed 500 miles off Iran’s southern coast, and the drones continued to advance despite U.S. military efforts to de-escalate tensions. There was no damage to U.S. soldiers or equipment in the incident.
Tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz
Hours after the initial incident, tensions spread to the Strait of Hormuz. There, the Revolutionary Guards Navy used two speedboats and a migrant drone to threaten the American-flagged commercial oil tanker Stena Imperative. Reports indicated that Corps forces approached the convoy, possibly with the intention of detaining it. However, the conflict ended with the missile destroyer USS McFaul, supported by the Royal Air Force, escorting the tanker until it reached a safe zone and intervened in a timely manner to escort the tanker to a safe zone.
Iran and the United States are scheduled to begin new talks in Turkey soon, but sources close to Iran have reported that the Iranian leadership wants to hold talks in Oman instead.
