After mastering drone warfare, Iran unleashes secret ‘Kamikaze’ USV on oil tanker in Gulf of Oman

A Marshall Islands–flagged tanker, MKD VYOM, has been assessed by UK authorities as the first ship in the current conflict to be attacked by an uncrewed surface vessel, with UKMTO saying the crew was evacuated to shore and urging vessels to transit the area with caution. The incident was first reported as a suspected projectile strike off Oman that triggered an explosion and fire and killed a crew member, before UKMTO issued its updated assessment pointing to a drone boat. The attack comes as commercial shipping faces escalating risk across the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz amid wider conflict-driven disruption.