Iran Says It Has Shot Down US Drone Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions

AP

Ships at the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s army said on Sunday that its air defence systems had shot down a US LUCAS drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions between Tehran, Washington and Israel.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the drone had been intercepted by air defence systems operating within Iran’s integrated air defence network.

The announcement came amid renewed speculation over possible US military action against Iran, with President Donald Trump indicating that Washington was considering further strikes while leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic agreement.

On Friday, Trump said the United States “may do another little Epic Fury”, referring to the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on 28 February.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that the prospect of renewed conflict would not change Tehran’s policies.

The reported interception follows an earlier incident on 20 October, when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian reports described it as the 54th drone of its kind to have been shot down.

Source: Reuters 



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