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Iran Shoots Down US MQ-1 Predator Drone Over Strait of Hormuz — AI-generated representative image. An Iranian air defense system on the coast of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway where Iran says it shot down a US MQ

Editorial Team

IRGC intercepts American Predator drone with surface-to-air missiles as Hormuz tensions escalate

Iran's air defense forces shot down another intruding American MQ-1 Predator drone over the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The remotely piloted aircraft was intercepted in Iranian airspace and destroyed before it could carry out any act of aggression.

The interception came just hours after the IRGC announced the destruction of a separate advanced MQ-1 drone over the same waterway, underscoring the intensifying confrontation between Tehran and Washington in the vital energy chokepoint.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a key battleground in the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, with Tehran tightening its control over maritime operations in and around the waterway through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes. The repeated downing of American drones reflects the escalating military friction and its potential implications for regional security and energy markets.

Latest Interceptions

The IRGC Public Relations Department said the multi-mission, long-endurance aircraft was immediately tracked by IRGC air defense systems and targeted by advanced surface-to-air missiles before it could act. The statement did not specify the exact location or time of the engagement beyond confirming it occurred over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Tuesday morning shootdown followed the interception and destruction of an advanced MQ-1 drone announced by the IRGC only a few hours earlier.
Last week, the Iranian Army's air defense separately intercepted a US MQ-1 drone above the Strait of Hormuz, with units detecting, tracking, and striking the aircraft in southeastern Iran.

Escalating Drone Warfare

The Strait of Hormuz has increasingly emerged as a focal point of the United States' military pressure on Iran. Tehran has responded by asserting tighter control over the waterway, which it describes as effectively blocked amid what it calls a US-Israeli war of aggression.

According to Bloomberg, Iran has eliminated more than two dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones since the onset of the US-Israeli war in late February, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the Pentagon's inventory before the offensive began. Each drone is valued at $30 million, putting the total estimated damage at around $1 billion.

Strain on US Drone Fleet

Bloomberg and the TWZ website reported that congressional testimony indicates the operational MQ-9 Reaper fleet of the US Air Force has fallen to approximately 135 aircraft, well below its established minimum threshold of 189.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the San Diego-based manufacturer of the unmanned combat aerial vehicle, has confirmed that fewer than 10 new airframes remain available for acquisition. The production line for the MQ-9A has ceased operations, adding further strain to the US military's ability to replace combat losses.

What Comes Next

Iranian authorities have confirmed the destruction of the drone but have not announced further details regarding recovered debris or any additional airspace violations. The IRGC has indicated that its air defense systems remain on alert to track and engage any further intruding aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz. No independent confirmation of the incident has been provided by US officials.