U.S. Military Sets Iranian Drone Carrier Ship on Fire

Centcom Commander says the vessel was roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The U.S. military struck and set on fire an Iranian drone carrier ship on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to degrade the Islamic Republic's navy. According to U.S. Central Command (Centcom) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, the vessel was roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier and is currently on fire. The U.S. has intensified its military strikes against Iran, sinking or destroying more than 30 Iranian warships and hitting nearly 200 targets deep inside Iran, including the capital Tehran.

Why it matters

The attack on the Iranian drone carrier ship is part of the U.S. military's broader strategy to cripple Iran's naval capabilities and degrade its ability to threaten U.S. interests in the region. The strikes come amid an escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran that has widened in scope, with both sides targeting each other's military and infrastructure.

The details

According to Centcom Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, the U.S. military struck the Iranian drone carrier ship, which he described as roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier. Cooper stated that the vessel is "as we speak, it's on fire." The U.S. has intensified its military campaign against Iran, sinking or destroying more than 30 Iranian warships and hitting nearly 200 targets deep inside Iran, including the capital Tehran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the amount of U.S. firepower over Iran is about to "surge dramatically" with the ability of the U.S. military to do more basing not just at British bases, but other regional allies.

  • On Saturday, when the war began, Centcom said its forces hit Iran's drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri as part of a barrage of airstrikes.
  • On Thursday, the U.S. military struck and set on fire the Iranian drone carrier ship.

The players

Adm. Brad Cooper

The Commander of U.S. Central Command (Centcom).

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Defense Secretary.

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What they’re saying

“As we speak, it's on fire.”

— Adm. Brad Cooper, Centcom Commander (dcnewsnow.com)

“The amount of U.S. firepower over Iran is about to 'surge dramatically' with the ability of the U.S. military to do more basing not just at British bases, but other regional allies.”

— Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary (dcnewsnow.com)

What’s next

The U.S. military's strikes against the Iranian navy are expected to continue as part of the broader effort to degrade Iran's military capabilities. Defense Secretary Hegseth indicated that the U.S. will be able to further increase its firepower and basing options in the region with the support of additional allies.

The takeaway

The attack on the Iranian drone carrier ship is a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran. It demonstrates the U.S. military's determination to cripple Iran's naval forces and disrupt its ability to project power in the region. The widening scope of the conflict raises concerns about the potential for further escalation and the impact on regional stability.