Iran says second US drone shot down east of Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN, Sept. 15 (YPA) – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Tuesday that its defense systems shot down a US MQ-1 drone flying east of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to an IRGC statement, the unmanned aerial vehicle was detected before being targeted by surface-to-air missiles and brought down in territorial waters.

The statement noted that this marks the fourth drone of the same model downed by Iranian defenses in recent days. Tehran had previously announced the downing of two similar drones over the Strait yesterday and earlier today, escalating tensions in the Gulf.

The MQ-1 Predator was developed by the United States in the early 1990s for reconnaissance before being upgraded to carry precision-guided missiles. The platform has served as a core asset in the US aerial fleet for decades and has participated in numerous military operations.

YPA