Iran's IRGC Shoots Down US MQ-9 Drone Over Andimeshk

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that it had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the southwestern city of Andimeshk. The IRGC's public relations office stated that the drone was intercepted and destroyed using a modern air defense system operated by its aerospace force. The announcement came minutes after the interception, but no further details were provided regarding the specific system used or the drone's mission.

Andimeshk is located in Khuzestan province, near the border with Iraq and close to areas that have been targeted in recent U.S. strikes. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States, as the MQ-9 Reaper is a sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicle capable of surveillance and precision strikes.

The IRGC did not elaborate on the circumstances leading to the downing, nor did it confirm whether the drone was armed. The U.S. military has not yet commented on the incident. According to Mehr News Agency (MNA), the report was based on an IRGC statement.