Iran reveals underground ‘missile city’ with naval drone fleet near Strait of Hormuz
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Iran has unveiled footage of what it described as an underground “missile city” housing a large fleet of naval suicide drones intended to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state television released video reportedly filmed inside a vast underground complex showing long tunnels lined with naval drones, anti ship missiles and sea mines. Some clips also showed the weapons being launched.
The timing of the recordings could not be confirmed and it remains unclear whether the facility has since been targeted by forces from the United States or Israel.
One image from the footage showed a tunnel containing a naval drone mounted on a trailer beneath a portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The naval drones, also known as unmanned surface vehicles, are small craft that travel on or just below the water surface carrying explosives designed to detonate on impact. According to maritime authorities, similar drones have already been used in attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
On March 1, a crude oil tanker named MKD VYOM, registered in the Marshall Islands, was struck about 44 nautical miles off the coast of Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an unmanned surface vessel hit the ship above the waterline, causing an explosion and fire in the engine room that killed one crew member.
A few days later, the Bahamas flagged tanker Sonangol Namibe was hit while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair Port. Its operator, Sonangol Marine Services, said all 23 crew members were unharmed and did not identify the attacking vessel while investigations continued.
Video circulating online showed a small speedboat shaped craft racing toward the tanker before striking it and triggering a large explosion that sent thick smoke into the air.
Naval drones have been used in at least two tanker attacks since the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran escalated. Similar unmanned vessels have also been used by Ukraine against Russian forces and by the Houthis in attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Iran has warned it could halt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries roughly one fifth of the world’s oil supplies. Iranian authorities have said the disruption could push global oil prices as high as 200 dollars per barrel after recent attacks on merchant vessels brought traffic through the strait close to a standstill.