IRGC Warns Tanker Crews Near Kuwait, Bahrain After US Attack on Kharg

By Al Mayadeen English

8 Sep 2026 23:35

Iran's IRGC Navy warns oil tanker crews near Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels after reports that US forces struck an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island.

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy command has warned crews aboard oil tankers near the ports and anchoring areas of Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, following reports that US forces targeted an Iranian oil tanker.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy accused the US military of targeting several Iranian oil tankers and warned crews in the vicinity of Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to leave their vessels immediately, as they may be targeted.

The warning comes after US forces had targeted an Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island, off Iran’s southern coast, as reported by Iranian news agency Tasnim.

According to Tasnim, the tanker was struck by a missile launched by US forces while it was located about four miles from Kharg Island. The agency later reported that the vessel was hit by a projectile fired by US forces near the island’s berthing area.

US forces then struck another tanker near Jask, southeastern Iran.

IRGC captures advanced US underwater drone

Earlier today, the IRGC Navy announced that its forces had captured a US unmanned underwater vehicle near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz following a "complex intelligence and military effort" carried out at dawn.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy said the captured vehicle was among the most advanced smart, unmanned submarines in the US military's fleet. It said the vessel was equipped with some of the latest underwater technologies and had been delivered to US forces in 2025.

The IRGC Navy added that images of the captured underwater vehicle would be released within hours.

The announcement came after the Iranian Army said earlier Tuesday that it had shot down a US MQ-1 drone over Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, marking another development in the strategically vital waterway.

Captured vehicle identified as Dive-LD

Tasnim identified the captured vehicle as the Dive-LD, an autonomous underwater vehicle manufactured by US company Anduril Industries.

According to the agency, the first Dive-LD unit was delivered in 2025 to the US Navy's Unmanned Undersea Systems unit. The vehicle is designed to conduct autonomous, long-duration missions in deep waters without a crew on board.

The Dive-LD is approximately 5.8 meters long and weighs nearly three tons. It can reportedly remain underwater for up to 10 days, allowing it to carry out extended missions independently.

According to specifications released by its manufacturer and cited by Tasnim, the Dive-LD can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters.

Its modular design allows different sensors and mission payloads to be installed according to operational requirements, while its use of 3D-printed components is intended to speed up modifications and the integration of new equipment.

The vehicle is designed to allow new sensors and systems to be added without requiring the entire underwater platform to be redesigned. According to the reported specifications, modifications that could traditionally require months or even years of development can instead be completed within weeks.