Tehran Says It Shot Down American Reaper Drone

In a dramatic escalation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the destruction of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone that had allegedly crossed into Iranian airspace. The claim follows American missile strikes on boats and an air-defense site near Bandar Abbas, operations the Pentagon said were necessary to neutralize threats to its forces. Four Guard members were reported killed in those strikes, prompting Tehran to vow an expanded response should hostilities resume. Military spokesmen emphasized that future Iranian actions would not remain confined to the Strait of Hormuz. Observers note that the incident risks derailing fragile diplomatic efforts and could draw neighboring states into the conflict.