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Iranian Army Claims Downed US Drone Over Bandar Abbas
· Confirmed
In Short: Iran's army claimed on Monday that its air defences shot down a US drone over the southern city of Bandar Abbas, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, reported TRT World and Adaderana (Sri Lanka).
The army accused Washington of violating nearly every provision of the Memorandum of Understanding signed 25 days ago and of committing 'war crimes' by targeting transport infrastructure, fishing boats, cargo vessels, and meteorological facilities, as per TRT World.
Iran warned that neighbouring states were obligated under international law to prevent their territory from being used for military action against Iran, threatening to target the origin and launch point of any attack, according to TRT World.
Mehr, citing an army statement, said air defence forces in southeastern Iran identified, intercepted, and destroyed “a hostile Lucas-type” aircraft over the skies of Bandar Abbas County near Hajiabad, reported TRT World.
In response, Tehran announced missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, while accusing Washington of violating a June 17 memorandum of understanding reached through Pakistani mediation, as reported by TRT World.
CENTCOM released a video showing the cruise missiles being launched under the cover of darkness, according to Indiatoday (India), while US President Donald Trump claimed that 49 Tomahawk missiles were used to strike targets deep inside Iranian territory.
The latest exchange brought together fresh US strikes inside Iran, Iran’s claim of retaliatory attacks on American bases in the region, a contested announcement on the Strait of Hormuz, and conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran over both military action and possible contact between their officials, reported Indiatoday (India).
Local media reports said the latest strikes hit western Tehran, Fars province, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Kish, Minab, and parts of central Isfahan, according to Indiatoday (India).
CENTCOM then publicly rejected Iran's claim that commercial ships were no longer transiting in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “Commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight” despite the fresh hostilities, reported Indiatoday (India).
Iranian media, citing senior officials, said Trump’s claim that he had directly spoken by phone with senior Iranian officials was false and that there had been no such communication between the two sides, reported Indiatoday (India).
The IRGC also said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to “all vessels,” including oil tankers and commercial ships, but CENTCOM disputed that claim and said commercial traffic was continuing through the waterway, reported Indiatoday (India).
Iranian officials challenged parts of the US account, according to Indiatoday (India).
What's confirmed
- Iran's army claimed on Monday that its air defences shot down a US drone over the southern city of Bandar Abbas, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency.
What's still developing
- Citing the military's public relations department, the agency said the drone was destroyed "by the fire of the Air Defence Force's systems, under the country's integrated air defence network."
- "Specifically, through various channels, we have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel," Clayton wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a message dated October 23.
- “I terminated one of the worst deals ever made, Barack Hussein Obama's Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or as some people call it, the Iran nuclear deal, which was a road to a nuclear weapon for Iran. I terminated it, luckily, just in time,” he said.
- “We obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury,” he said, referring to military operations in 2025 and then this February to May.
- “They don't have any airplanes, no ships, no anything, no leaders. Level one leader is gone, level two leader is gone,” he said, reiterating his account of the US destruction of Iran’s military and leadership.
- “We’re thinking about doing it, and maybe tomorrow,” Trump told reporters when asked how far along he was in considering a possible attack.
- “Do you really think I’m going to tell you if I’m going to do it?” he added.
- Trump says US could strike Iran ‘tomorrow’ or reach ‘big, beautiful’ deal Trump on Saturday said Washington could strike Iran as soon as “tomorrow,” or reach a “big, beautiful” agreement with Tehran, amid reports that he's weighing renewed attacks on the Islamic Republic.
- “That’s the only reason I’m doing it.” The president also claimed that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz had increased compared with before the war began, without providing figures during his remarks.
- “I may have to finish it off, or maybe they’ll make a deal,” Trump said.