The United States military said early Friday that an Iranian drone carrier was attacked and set ablaze during a strike carried out amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

A message released by the U.S. military’s Central Command stated that the vessel had been struck and left burning following multiple impacts.

The announcement included black-and-white footage showing the ship engulfed in flames after the attack.

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According to the U.S. military, the vessel targeted in the strike was an Iranian drone carrier identified as the IRIS Shahid Bagheri.

The ship is a converted container vessel that Iran had repurposed for military operations.

The Iranian government did not immediately acknowledge the reported attack.

Officials in Tehran have largely refrained from providing details about equipment losses during the war.

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Central Command released the footage alongside its statement describing the strike.

The video showed the vessel ablaze following the impacts, though additional operational details about the attack were not immediately disclosed.

The IRIS Shahid Bagheri was introduced by Iran earlier in the year as part of its naval capabilities.

Iranian authorities inaugurated the ship in February 2025.

The vessel was designed to function as a platform capable of launching unmanned aerial vehicles.

Reports at the time of its launch described the ship as having a runway approximately 590 feet long intended for drone operations.

The converted container ship was also described as capable of traveling long distances without needing to stop at port for refueling.

According to reports following its inauguration, the vessel could travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without refueling.

The ship’s role in Iran’s naval strategy was tied to expanding the country’s ability to deploy drones from sea-based platforms.

Such vessels can be used to extend operational reach by launching unmanned aircraft far from Iran’s coastline.

Central Command’s statement about the attack was released as military operations between U.S. forces and Iranian assets continued in the region.

The command said in its statement that “US forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian navy.”

No immediate information was released about potential casualties resulting from the strike or whether any Iranian personnel were aboard the vessel when it was hit.

The footage released by Central Command appeared to show the ship already burning following the strikes, with flames visible across sections of the vessel.

Iranian authorities have not released official confirmation about the condition of the IRIS Shahid Bagheri following the reported attack.

Tehran has also not issued a detailed statement regarding the loss of naval equipment since hostilities began.

The IRIS Shahid Bagheri had been presented by Iranian officials earlier in the year as part of the country’s efforts to expand maritime drone operations.

Its conversion from a commercial container vessel allowed Iran to add a platform capable of supporting unmanned aerial systems at sea.

The ship’s long runway for drone launches was one of its primary features, according to reports at the time of its unveiling.

The platform was intended to support drone takeoffs and potentially allow for extended operations across large maritime areas.

At the time of its inauguration in February 2025, Iranian media described the vessel as a step forward in the country’s naval drone capabilities.

The U.S. military’s announcement Friday marks the first public statement about the ship being struck during the conflict.

Central Command did not provide further details about the weapons used in the attack or the specific location where the strike occurred.

Iranian officials had not issued a public response regarding the strike at the time the statement and footage were released.

Central Command’s statement and accompanying video indicated that the attack resulted in the vessel being set ablaze after multiple strikes hit the ship.

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