Iran army says it downed US Lucas drone over Bandar Abbas

Iran's Army said its air defense systems operating within the country's integrated air defense network struck and destroyed a U.S. Lucas drone in the sky over Bandar Abbas, according to a statement issued by the Army's public relations office.

The statement did not specify the date or time of the incident, nor did it provide further details on the type of munitions used or the drone's flight path. The Army described the engagement as part of operations conducted under the national integrated air defense network.

The announcement follows an earlier statement by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, which said on October 20 that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC described that incident as the 54th such drone downed.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of global oil shipments passes, has been the site of repeated aerial encounters in recent months. Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormuzgan Province, hosts significant military and naval installations and sits near the strait's northern approaches.

Neither the U.S. side nor other parties immediately commented on the Army's account of the Bandar Abbas incident. The report did not state whether any casualties or damage occurred on the ground.

According to Mehr News, the Army's public relations office announced the downing of the U.S. Lucas drone over Bandar Abbas without giving a date for the incident.