Sirik:Tehran Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the interception and destruction of an MQ-1 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz. This development was reported by the semi-official ISNA news agency, which cited the IRGC's statement on Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the IRGC described the drone as the 14th MQ-1 UAV intercepted and destroyed by its air defense system. The drone was identified as a US-made unmanned aerial vehicle, although the operator was not specified by the IRGC.
The incident reportedly occurred opposite the coastal area of Sirik, marking heightened tensions in the region. In a related development, the IRGC Navy reported that three oil tankers struck mines and caught fire after allegedly ignoring warnings and attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized southern route. The tankers reportedly switched off their radar and navigation systems prior to the incidents and were abandoned off the southern coasts of the strait.
Furthermore, the IRGC Navy claimed that its electronic warfare unit had forced an American MQM-170 spy and decoy drone to land intact in the western Strait of Hormuz. These events coincide with increasing indications of potential US and Israeli military actions against Iran.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US had advised several Gulf Arab nations to brace for a "short, intense military campaign" against Tehran following the US midterm elections on November 3. While no final decision has been made, US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a significant post-election offensive.
The ongoing hostilities include a previous conflict initiated by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, leading to retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial channel for global energy supplies. Attempts to negotiate peace through a memorandum of understanding in June ultimately failed due to disagreements, particularly regarding navigation rights in the strait.