IRGC shoots down US MQ-1 drone in Iranian waters

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday morning that it had intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-1 drone that entered Iranian territorial airspace over the country's territorial waters with apparent hostile intent. The IRGC deployed advanced air defense missiles to bring the aircraft down immediately.

The IRGC's public relations office stated that the drone, belonging to the US military, was detected as it entered Iranian territorial airspace in the early hours of Sunday. It was immediately tracked by IRGC air defense systems and targeted by advanced surface-to-air missiles before it could carry out a planned hostile operation.

Following the interception, the IRGC Air Defense issued a direct warning, stating that Iranian airspace over the country's territorial waters is under full control, and any incursion will be met with a decisive response.

The MQ-1 Predator is a remotely piloted surveillance and light strike aircraft operated by US forces, used primarily for reconnaissance and targeting operations.

According to Mehr News Agency, the incident occurred on Sunday morning, and the IRGC confirmed the downing of the drone. The report did not specify the exact location of the interception but emphasized that the drone had entered Iranian territorial waters.