Iran's IRGC says it downed a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz and that two tankers hit mines south of the strait

Summary

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, with state media carrying the statement that an IRGC aerospace force air defence system shot it down. In a second statement, the IRGC's Navy said two tankers were set ablaze and brought to a halt south of the strait after hitting Iranian mines, without saying when the tankers were hit, and said a US drone was downed by Iran on Monday night. Middle East Eye carried both claims, the second with Reuters reporting. These are Iranian claims as reported; the articles do not include independent confirmation of the drone shootdown or the tanker incidents.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   20 Oct 2026, 03:33 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that the IRGC said it intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, using an advanced air defence system operated by its aerospace force, as carried by state media.

2. Middle East Eye

   20 Oct 2026, 09:31 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports, citing Reuters, that the IRGC Navy said two tankers were set ablaze and brought to a halt south of the Strait of Hormuz after hitting Iranian mines, without saying when, and that Iran downed a US drone on Monday night.