Iranian Regime Claims It Downed 54th US MQ-9 Drone Over Strait of Hormuz — Claim Unverified

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 20: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that it had intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

The IRGC said the drone was brought down early Tuesday while flying over the strategic waterway. Fars reported that the force claimed the aircraft was the 54th US MQ-9 drone it had destroyed.

The claim has not been independently verified.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States over security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping route.

The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks across the region. Iran also effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In June, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding concerning freedom of navigation through the strait. However, implementation stalled amid disagreements over security arrangements in the strategic waterway.