US shoots down Iranian drone in international waters
A U.S. F-35C jet, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, destroyed an Iranian drone identified as a Shahed-139. The incident occurred approximately 800 kilometers from Iran’s southern coast. U.S. Central Command stated that the drone was «aggressively» approaching the carrier, even after U.S. forces attempted to de-escalate the situation in international waters, according to Associated Press.
This incident was not an isolated one. On the same day, Iranian forces allegedly «harassed» a U.S.-flagged merchant ship, the Stena Imperative, in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to seize it. The vessel safely cleared the area after a U.S. Navy destroyer intervened to provide an escort.
Both incidents occurred while tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high. The Trump administration is urging Iran to negotiate over its nuclear program and has not ruled out military action against the Islamic Republic. The White House has issued harsh rhetoric toward Iran following a brutal crackdown on mass protests that erupted in the country in January.
Despite President Donald Trump’s public promises to support the protesters, the U.S. has not intervened directly so far, though the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East has continued. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, along with additional destroyers, air defense systems and other equipment, has been deployed to the region in recent weeks.
In early January, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a swift operation that killed approximately 80 people, according to Venezuelan authorities, sparking worldwide outrage over breaches of international law.
Since the Karabakh war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the role of drones as a powerful military asset has continued to grow, prompting countries around the world to develop similar capabilities. In Kazakhstan, authorities have expressed interest in advancing drone technologies but have also raised concerns regarding their potential for misuse.
At the same time, Russia has significantly expanded its use of drones during its war in Ukraine, testing and refining these systems at facilities such as the Kapustin Yar test site near the Kazakh border. On several occasions, these drones have reportedly crashed on Kazakh territory.
