IRGC says it downed 14th US MQ-1 drone over eastern Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-1 drone over the eastern Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement issued by the Corps' public relations office. The IRGC described the incident as the 14th such drone it has downed.

The statement said the drone was brought down by a new advanced air defense system operated by the IRGC Aerospace Force. The announcement did not specify the exact date or time of the interception, the location beyond the eastern Strait of Hormuz, or further technical details about the system used.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes, and it has repeatedly been the setting for incidents involving Iranian forces and US military assets. The IRGC has previously announced interceptions of unmanned aircraft in the area, and its public relations office has regularly issued statements on such operations.

There was no immediate public comment from US officials on the IRGC's claim in the report. The announcement did not provide evidence or independent confirmation of the interception, and the identity and mission of the drone were not described beyond its designation as a US MQ-1.

The report by Mehr News (MNA) carried the IRGC statement without additional details on the circumstances of the interception or on any response from the United States.