Iran shoots down US drone over the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which said it intercepted and destroyed an MQ-9 drone early on Tuesday. The claim was carried by the semi-official Fars news agency. No confirmation from Washington had been reported at the time of writing.
What the Guard said
The IRGC is Iran's elite military force. According to Fars, the Guard said the drone was flying over the strategic waterway when it was downed. It also claimed the aircraft was the 54th US MQ-9 it had destroyed, a count that has not been independently checked. The MQ-9 is an unmanned US aircraft used for surveillance and strike missions. No motive for the interception was given in the Guard's account.
The wider conflict
The incident comes against the backdrop of a wider war. The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on 28 February, and Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region. Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, and Washington later imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 28 February: The US and Israel launch a war against Iran.
- After 28 February: Tehran responds with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closes the Strait of Hormuz.
- After 28 February: Washington imposes a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- Early Tuesday: The IRGC says it intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over the strait.
Further details, including any response from Washington, had not been reported at the time of writing. The Guard's claim of 54 destroyed drones is its own figure and remains unconfirmed.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Iran ke Revolutionary Guard ka kehna hai ke unhon ne Strait of Hormuz ke upar ek US MQ-9 drone gira diya. Yeh dava abhi kisi US tasdeeq ke saath nahi aayi. US aur Israel ki Iran ke khilaf jang ke baad is aabi raste par tanao hai, is liye tail aur shipping ki khabron par nazar rakhein.
