TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its forces intercepted and destroyed an advanced MQ-1 drone while it was flying over the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC Public Relations Department said the Aerospace Force used a new advanced air defence system operating under Iran’s integrated air defence network to target the unmanned aircraft.
According to the statement, the interception took place in the skies above the strategic waterway. However, the IRGC did not provide further details about the drone’s operator, its mission or the precise location where the aircraft was reportedly brought down.
There was also no immediate independent confirmation of the Iranian military’s claim.
IRGC Credits New Air Defence System for Interception
The IRGC presented the incident as another demonstration of Iran’s air defence capabilities amid continuing military tensions.
Moreover, Iranian authorities have claimed significant successes against hostile aircraft and unmanned systems during the ongoing conflict and previous confrontations with the United States and Israel.
During the earlier 40-day US-Israeli war against Iran, Tehran claimed its air defence forces destroyed hundreds of hostile drones, including MQ-9 Reapers, Hermes aircraft and LUCAS models.
Iran Has Claimed Previous Aerial Victories
Iranian forces have also previously claimed to have targeted several US military aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighters, F-15s, F-16s and aerial refuelling aircraft.
However, the latest IRGC statement did not provide supporting evidence for those earlier claims, which have not all been independently verified.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways and a major route for international energy shipments.
Consequently, any military confrontation involving aircraft over the strait carries broader implications for regional security and maritime traffic.
