ISTANBUL — Iranian media reported on Wednesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down a US drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, marking another escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
According to the semi-official Fars News Agency, the aircraft was identified as a Lucas-type drone and was destroyed by IRGC air defense systems. The report did not provide further details about the circumstances of the incident or the drone’s mission.
US officials have not publicly commented on the Iranian claim.
The reported drone interception comes hours after Iranian media alleged that US forces carried out a strike on Hengam Island, located near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, further intensifying military tensions in the region.
The latest developments follow several days of reciprocal military actions between the United States and Iran, despite a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding that was intended to halt hostilities and lay the groundwork for renewed peace negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, and continued military escalation in the area has heightened concerns over regional security, international shipping and global energy supplies.
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