The IRGC identifies this as the second US underwater drone taken in three weeks, following the capture of an Anduril Dive-LD on September 8. While US officials previously stated the Dive-LD had malfunctioned, the IRGC claims the Kingfish was seized fully intact and that specialists are currently extracting its data for reverse engineering. The IRGC has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to unauthorized traffic and is taking action against vessels in the region.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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US Refutes Iran Claim of Second Underwater Drone Seizure
War23 days ago
Washington dismissed the assertion that the Revolutionary Guard captured a naval submersible in the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the announcement as "clearly desperate." The claim by Iran's IRGC Navy involved the seizure of a REMUS 600 autonomous underwater vehicle, known by the US military as the Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish, which Tehran says it intercepted using a coordinated electronic warfare operation while the drone was conducting surveillance.
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