HARIANEXPRESS – Iran has stated that it successfully shot down two United States military drones near the Strait of Hormuz. This development arrives as friction between Tehran and Washington intensifies around the vital waterway.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that its air defense systems intercepted the two drones during separate incidents on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The aircraft were identified as MQ-1 unmanned aerial vehicles, with one brought down west of the Strait of Hormuz and another near the strategic corridor.
Previous Incidents and Traffic Decline
The latest announcement follows a prior event reported by Iran on September 14, where the IRGC stated its air defense system destroyed an MQ-1 drone over the area using a newly deployed advanced air defense system. Independent confirmation regarding the latest claims is currently unavailable, and Washington has not publicly confirmed the loss of the two drones.
The Strait of Hormuz functions as a vital global energy route, meaning any military confrontation poses serious implications for international trade and energy supplies. Shipping traffic through the waterway has dropped sharply amid the escalating conflict, with Reuters noting that only 4 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday compared to a pre-war daily average of around 125 vessels.
