U.S. Frees Unmanned Sea-based Drone From Iranian Control After Four-hour Standoff

U.S. Frees Unmanned Sea-based Drone From Iranian Control After Four-hour Standoff

The U.S. freed a Saildrone Explorer from Iranian control after a four-hour standoff. A U.S. patrol ship demanded the drone’s release at least five times but got no response, a defense official said. The patrol ship then sent a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to cut the tow line and launched a Sea Hawk helicopter from Bahrain, which is when Iran cut the tow line and set the U.S. drone free.