Iran says it shot down US MQ-1 drone off Sirik coast

Iran's navy announced it intercepted and shot down a US MQ-1 drone using its naval defense system off the coast of Sirik in the Persian Gulf, according to the Fars news agency.

In a statement issued today, the Iranian army's public relations department said that a few hours earlier, an "aggressive American MQ-1 drone" was targeted, shot down, and destroyed after being intercepted by a modern air defense system operated by the Iranian navy. The operation took place within the country's unified joint air defense command network, in the Kuhestak area near Sirik's coast.

The statement added: "We will not hesitate for a moment to protect and defend the territorial integrity, maritime borders, and interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran."