THIS is the dramatic moment Iran’s drone mothership used to attack the West is blown to smithereens as “all 11” regime vessels are destroyed.
Stunning footage showed the Shahid Bagheri – a huge launchpad for Iranian UAVs, being obliterated in the latest wave of US attacks on the reeling regime.
In the jaw-dropping clip, a huge fireball can be seen erupting from Iran‘s massive vessel as plumes of smoke are sent billowing into the air.
It comes as…
The Shahid Bagheri, originally a commercial ship, was converted into a menacing drone launch pad in 2022.
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Operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, it also hosts helicopters and medium-range defence systems and has a 180-metre flight deck.
Washington said military forces have sunk 11 naval ships operated by Tehran in the Gulf of Oman since the outbreak of the war following Ali Khamenei’s death on Saturday.
Centcom said on X: “Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO.
“The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over.
“Freedom of maritime navigation has underpinned American and global economic prosperity for more than 80 years. U.S. forces will continue to defend it.”
US Central Command (Centcom) also hit back at Iranian claims that Tehran had sunk an American aircraft carrier in the Gulf – saying the reports were false.
Centcom said on X: “The Iranian regime’s false messaging machine continues to falsely claim that it has sunk a US aircraft carrier.
“The only carrier that has been hit is the Shahid Bagheri, an Iranian drone carrier.”
They added: “US forces struck the ship within hours of launching Operation Epic Fury.”
The strikes came as Israel and the US continue to launch attacks on targets in Tehran following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
Britain is reportedly mulling sending a warship to Cyprus following an Iranian drone attack on a UK base.
Government sources confirmed that ministers were still “considering” deploying a Navy gunboat to RAF Akrotiri – sparking fury among MPs.
The base was hit by an Iranian drone on Sunday that came within 800 yards of UK personnel stationed on the island, according to The Times.
Defence Secretary John Healey has been in talks with officials over the past 24 hours over whether to send a warship.
This will likely be the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan – described by the Royal Navy as “one of the most advanced warships in the world”.
But it has sparked further claims that Sir Keir Starmer is dithering rather than acting in the face of Iranian aggression.
French president Emmanuel Macron has ordered two warships to guard Britain’s RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
His decision came after Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides pleaded for help shoring up the island’s defences.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has today announced a Government charter flight will take off from Muscat, Oman, “in the coming days”.
Cooper told the Commons that 130,000 Brit nationals have registered their presence with the Foreign Office in the Middle East.
This will allow them to receive updates from the British government as the situation unfolds.
Sir Keir has already angered US President Donald Trump and put the special relationship in peril by refusing to support the initial US strike that killed Ayatollah Khamenei.
Britain later decided to grant a US request to use its bases for “defensive” strikes against Iran, after Washington and Israel launched a military campaign that triggered retaliation from Tehran.
Explosions have been reported across several Gulf states, Iran and Israel as the Middle East war enters its fourth day.
Israel has launched a ground offensive in Lebanon as the spiralling war spills out into other countries.