Tehran: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Tuesday that three MQ-1 drones were intercepted and "destroyed" near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the fifth drone it claims to have downed recently. The IRGC reported that the drone was downed "over the skies" of the strategic waterway by its newly deployed advanced air defense system.

According to Anadolu Agency, the IRGC previously stated that it had shot down two MQ-1 drones, including one in the east and another in the west of the strait. This announcement follows a day after the IRGC claimed to have destroyed another drone of the same type, as reported by the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

These incidents occur amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical navigation route where both countries have been at odds. Recently, the US and Israel conducted large-scale attacks on February 28, targeting Iranian government buildings, military sites, missile infrastructure, and air defenses. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US bases across the region.

The conflict has since widened, with ongoing hostilities prompting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the tensions.