US Navy uses FIRST surface sea drone to STRIKE Iranian targets

President Trump saying that the Strait of Hormuz is open and will stay open with or without Iran. He is also bringing back the United States blockade on Iranian ships. CENTCOM says that it will start a little over 24 hours from now, about 4 p.m. tomorrow. That blockade, which you can see on that initial U.S. blockade line, that's where it was. As far as we know, that's where it will be again. But we're waiting for any information on whether or not that will change. Former commander of U.S. Naval Central Command, retired Vice Admiral Mark Fox standing by. But first, your chief national security correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, reporting live from Washington. Hi, Jennifer. Hi, Martha. Well, I'm told it will take some time to reimpose a full naval blockade and eliminate any threat along the along the Strait of Hormuz, something U.S. Central Command had basically achieved back in June before the White House abruptly announced a ceasefire on June 18th after a U.S. Apache helicopter was shot down and U.S. negotiators began what was supposed to be 60 days of negotiations under a memorandum of understanding. This weekend, for the first time ever, the U.S. Navy used a surface sea drone in combat to strike Iranian targets, including this submarine base in Bandar Abbas near the mouth of the Strait. This video released by U.S. Central Command shows the perspective from the surface drone packed with explosives before it struck. The drone is known as a Corsair and changed directions as it entered the inlet in search of its target. A similar sea drone was used to rescue an American Apache helicopter pilot off the coast of Oman just last month. CENTCOM also used one-way aerial attack drones last night to take out dozens of Iranian targets after Iran fired on a ship that tried to bypass its permissions and tolls in the Strait. Iran later responded by firing missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, as well as at a civilian hotel in Oman. To reimpose a full blockade, the U.S. military will continue taking out Iran's drone and missile launchers threatening the Strait and pick off Iranian fast boats. We're hearing reports, Martha, that the White House has alerted Congress under the War Powers Act that those are defensive strikes and they began on July 7th. The president, as you mentioned, plans to address the nation at 9 p.m. on Thursday night. Martha. Jennifer, thank you. Jennifer Griffin reporting.