Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported engaging with an F-35 fighter jet and successfully bringing down an American reaper drone amidst escalating tensions during pivotal peace negotiations.
The Islamic Republic declared on Tuesday that it identified an unwelcome aircraft entering its airspace and responded by firing at a drone, emphasizing its legitimate right to retaliate against breaches of the ceasefire agreement with the US.
This incident follows a series of overnight strikes by the US on targets in the Strait of Hormuz, jeopardizing the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran as talks unfold in Qatar.
According to CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins, the US conducted defensive strikes in southern Iran to safeguard troops from potential threats posed by Iranian forces. The targets included missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to plant mines.
In response to these strikes, the IRGC issued a statement claiming to have downed an MQ-9 Reaper drone and engaged with an RQ-4 drone and an intruding F-35 fighter jet trying to enter Iranian airspace.
The IRGC justified its actions as defensive measures, asserting its right to counter any ceasefire violations by the US military.
