Iran on Tuesday claimed to have shot down a US MQ-9 drone flying over its territory, as it shared a video purporting to show the incident.
“Iran’s IRGC Navy air defense shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone last night over Qeshm Island,” state-affiliated media Press TV reported on social media, accompanying the announcement with a video clip. The footage, lasting 2 minutes and 58 seconds, depicts a drone being struck and subsequently crashing in a fiery explosion.
Join our social media platform
Second Such Incident in a Week
This latest claim follows a similar assertion made by Iran just last week, when it stated it had shot down two MQ-9 drones. At that time, Iran also shared video evidence of the alleged downing. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had issued a statement confirming that the long-range drones were “intercepted and destroyed” by an advanced system forming part of Iran’s integrated air defense network. Local Iranian media had shared a video claiming to show “The moment of impact and explosion of two MQ-9 drones in the airspace over Isfahan last night.”
Shot down a US MQ-9: Escalating Conflict in the Region
These incidents occur amidst a significant escalation of conflict in the region, characterized by a series of US-Israel strikes targeting various Iranian sites. These attacks have reportedly included strategically important locations such as Kharg Island and multiple key bridges across Iran.
US-Israel Strikes Target Iranian Infrastructure
Adding to the heightened tensions, a US-Israeli strike on Tuesday targeted a railway bridge in the central Iranian city of Kashan, according to local authorities. The attack reportedly killed two people and injured three others. The targeted infrastructure was identified as the Yahya Abad railway bridge, a crucial piece of infrastructure in the region.
Akbar Salehi, a senior security official from Isfahan Province, confirmed the incident in a statement carried by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) and quoted by AFP. “A few minutes ago, the American-Zionist aggressor attacked the Yahya Abad railway bridge in Kashan city,” Salehi was quoted as saying. He added, “Two people were martyred and three others were injured in this attack.”
