Amid signs of another round of fighting: Tehran claims it shot down an American drone

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they shot down an American drone off the coast of Sirik using a new air defense system. According to the organization, this is the 14th such drone they have downed. The announcement comes amid rising tensions and signs of another round of fighting between the US and Israel and Iran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed on Thursday that they shot down an American drone east of the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of the city of Sirik in Hormozgan province. According to the organization's statement, the aircraft was intercepted using a new air defense system of the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force. The organization claims this is the 14th drone of this model downed by their forces. Iranian media described the drone as belonging to the US military, but the organization's official statement did not specify who operated it. The latest claim joins a series of Iranian claims of interceptions over the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the Revolutionary Guards claimed to have shot down a long-range American drone over the strait, and last month the Iranian army announced a similar downing in the same area. The claim comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, as signs of another round of fighting multiply. As a reminder, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, and Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz. A memorandum of understanding signed in June, intended to pave the way for a permanent agreement, subsequently collapsed amid disputes, including over navigation arrangements in the strait.