Iran disguises drone boats as fishing vessels to attack oil tankers

According to The Financial News, the Islamic Republic of Iran is using drone boats to attack oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say that after the deployment of aerial drones, unmanned surface assets are now being used in real combat, expanding the scope of unmanned warfare.
Fox News reported on the 13th (local time) that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been attacking commercial vessels by loading explosives onto remotely operated unmanned surface craft and disguising them as fishing boats and similar small vessels.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that on the 1st, a Marshall Islands–flagged oil tanker was attacked by an Iranian surface drone in waters near Oman. It was also reported that on the 11th in the Persian Gulf, two additional tankers were struck by remotely controlled boats believed to have been sent by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Citing Cameron Chell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of drone technology company Draganfly, Fox News reported, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is employing attacks that involve deploying multiple unmanned surface vessels loaded with explosives."
The New York Times (NYT), also quoting U.S. officials, reported that "the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently shown signs of attempting to lay naval mines using small boats."
dschoi@fnnews.com Choi Doo-seon Reporter