IRGC Downs US Drone Over Persian Gulf Amid Ceasefire Flare-Up

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that its air defense units shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Persian Gulf, warning that any violation of the current ceasefire will face a severe response.

According to an IRGC statement, the American drone was intercepted and destroyed after entering Iranian territorial airspace. The IRGC also claimed to have fired warnings at an RQ-4 drone and an F-35 fighter jet, forcing them to retreat from the area.

The incident marks a sharp escalation as Washington reports that final texts to end the conflict may take a few days to settle, despite broad agreement on a draft. Concurrently, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that US and Israeli aircraft struck Iranian vessels south of Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the deaths of several Iranian nationals.

Following the strikes, senior Iranian armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi warned of a much stronger retaliation if hostilities resume. "If the region enters another round of war, Iran's response will extend beyond regional borders," Shekarchi stated.

The ongoing conflict began on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered reciprocal responses from Tehran. A Pakistan-led mediation team later brokered a ceasefire that took effect on April 8, which was subsequently extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump before this latest flare-up.