{"id":64710,"date":"2026-07-13T11:08:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-forces-deploy-sea-drones-in-iran-strike-norway-oil-dispute-escalates\/64710\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T11:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:08:16","slug":"us-forces-deploy-sea-drones-in-iran-strike-norway-oil-dispute-escalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-forces-deploy-sea-drones-in-iran-strike-norway-oil-dispute-escalates\/64710\/","title":{"rendered":"US Forces Deploy Sea Drones in Iran Strike; Norway Oil Dispute Escalates"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)<\/strong> conducted a historic strike on Iran&#39;s <strong>Bandar Abbas Naval Base<\/strong> using one-way attack sea drones for the first time in combat operations.<\/li>\n<li>The ongoing <strong>SAFE union<\/strong> strike in Norway is costing the oil industry over <strong>$51 million (NOK 500m) per week<\/strong>, with production losses expected to hit <strong>120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day<\/strong> by late July.<\/li>\n<li>President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> has recommended <strong>Darline Graham<\/strong>, sister of the late Senator <strong>Lindsey Graham<\/strong>, to serve as the interim U.S. Senator for South Carolina.<\/li>\n<li>The U.S. military utilized three <strong>Corsair<\/strong> unmanned surface vessels, manufactured by <strong>Saronic Technologies<\/strong>, to degrade Iran&#39;s ability to target commercial shipping in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>CENTCOM Employs Sea Drones in Major Strike on Iran<\/h2>\n<p>U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday that American forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at the <strong>Bandar Abbas Naval Base<\/strong> in Iran. The operation utilized three <strong>Corsair<\/strong> one-way attack surface drones, marking the first time the U.S. military has employed sea drones in active combat.<\/p>\n<p>The strikes were designed to degrade Iran\u2019s capabilities to harass and attack commercial shipping in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. The <strong>Corsair<\/strong> vessels, developed by <strong>Saronic Technologies<\/strong>, previously gained attention in June 2024 for their role in a personnel rescue mission, but this deployment confirms their transition into an offensive strike role.<\/p>\n<h2>Norway Oil Services Dispute Deepens as Mediation Fails<\/h2>\n<p>The labor dispute in Norway&#39;s offshore sector continues to escalate after Monday&#39;s mediation failed to yield a deal between the <strong>SAFE union<\/strong> and employers. Industry body <strong>Offshore Norway<\/strong> reported that the strike is now costing the industry more than <strong>NOK 500 million ($51.2 million)<\/strong> weekly.<\/p>\n<p>The industrial action has already forced the suspension of operations at five mobile drilling rigs and five fixed installations. Companies heavily impacted by the service disruption include Equinor (<a href=\"\/stock\/EQNR\">EQNR<\/a>), SLB (<a href=\"\/stock\/SLB\">SLB<\/a>), Halliburton (<a href=\"\/stock\/HAL\">HAL<\/a>), and Baker Hughes (<a href=\"\/stock\/BKR\">BKR<\/a>). Production losses have reached a cumulative <strong>2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent<\/strong> this year, with daily losses projected to rise significantly if the lockout of over <strong>1,200 workers<\/strong> persists.<\/p>\n<h2>Trump Recommends Successor for Late Senator Lindsey Graham<\/h2>\n<p>Following the sudden death of Senator <strong>Lindsey Graham<\/strong>, President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> has publicly recommended that South Carolina Governor <strong>Henry McMaster<\/strong> appoint Graham\u2019s sister, <strong>Darline Graham<\/strong>, as the interim senator. Trump described the move as a &quot;fabulous tribute&quot; to the late senator, who was a close political ally.<\/p>\n<p>Governor McMaster is expected to announce the appointment this afternoon at the Statehouse in Columbia. The interim senator will serve until at least January 2027, while a special election will be held to determine the permanent successor for the remainder of the term. The vacancy has already sparked interest from other high-profile Republicans, including Representative <strong>Nancy Mace<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a historic strike on Iran&#39;s Bandar Abbas Naval Base using one-way attack sea 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