The US attack on Iran has almost obliterated the Iranian Navy, with 11 warships destroyed, including its prestigious drone carrier Shahid Bagheri. Satellite images also showed the naval port of Bandar Abbas, one of Iran’s prized sea bases, burning for 24 hours following an overnight US attack.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed that it had destroyed 11 Iranian vessels, stating, “Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman — today it has none.” The hit on Shahid Bagheri, a major Iranian Naval vessel, is a major setback to Iran as the 40,000-ton carrier could carry and launch around a formidable fleet of 60 drones and helicopters and could operate in the sea without refuelling for almost a year.
“The only carrier that has been hit is Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier. U.S. forces struck the vessel within hours of the start of Operation Epic Rage,” the American name for the war,” CENTCOM said.
CENTCOM has also claimed that it struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette that is “now sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman.” This came as US President Donald Trump claimed that an Iranian naval headquarters had also been significantly attacked. “Other than that, they’re doing very well,” he said.
Soon after, satellite images emerged showing Bandar Abbas base, which hosts the Iranian Navy’s main headquarters and many of its most capable ships and submarines, burning. The images showed thick black smoke emanating from much of the central portion of the facility.
Interestingly, the images also show IRINS Makran, the first forward base ship of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, burning. Moored at a berth at the southern end of the base, Makran has been heavily damaged, while IRIS Sahand, IRIS Sabalan and IRIS Zagros have been partially damaged.
While smoke has been seen rising from the military vessels for more than 24 hours, no rescue attempts were spotted, according to The New York Times. The Iranian navy had not taken protective measures for its vessels, the report added.
The U.S. military said that among the targets struck were also Iranian navy submarines and anti-ship missile sites.