Iran’s army says it downed MQ-1 drone east of Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intercepted and destroyed an MQ-1 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Thursday, citing the force. The IRGC said the drone was the 14th MQ-1 to be intercepted and destroyed by its air defense system. According to ISNA, the incident took place in the skies east of the Strait of Hormuz, opposite the coastal area of Sirik. The MQ-1 drone is a US-made unmanned aerial vehicle, although the IRGC did not specify the drone’s operator in its statement.

The incident comes amid growing signs of a possible new round of US and Israeli offensive action against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Washington had told several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a “short, intense military campaign” against Tehran after the Nov. 3 US midterm elections. US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision but is leaning toward a large post-election attack, according to the report.

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. A memorandum of understanding signed in June to pave the way for a final peace deal later collapsed amid disagreements, including over navigation in the strait.