U.S. Military Launches Additional Strikes Against Iran. A projectile is launched in an image from a video released by U.S. Central Command on the 11th (local time), as the command announced further strikes against Iran. [Provided by U.S. Central Command/Reuters=Yonhap News] 

The U.S. military, which has been conducting ongoing airstrikes against Iran in response to its attacks on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, announced on the 13th (local time) that it has completed strikes on Iranian submarine and naval vessel maintenance facilities.

U.S. Central Command stated via X on the same day, "Yesterday, Central Command forces successfully struck Iranian submarine and naval vessel maintenance facilities using a number of one-way attack drones."

It continued, "Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels attacked the port at the Bandar Abbas naval base," adding that "this marks the first time the U.S. military has deployed maritime drones in combat operations."

The 'Corsair' unmanned surface vessel, manufactured by defense firm Saronic, began deployment with the U.S. Navy in March. Last month, it was utilized in an operation to rescue two crew members of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter that had been shot down by Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman.

Central Command added, "Last night's airstrikes have degraded Iran's capability to continue attacking merchant vessels."

Even after the entry into force of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. that guaranteed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during a ceasefire period, Iran has continued its attacks on merchant ships passing through the strait. In response, the U.S. military has expanded its airstrikes targeting Iran's air defense systems, coastal radar stations, and naval vessels to weaken Iran's maritime attack capabilities.