Iran’s army announced on July 13 that its naval air defense units intercepted and destroyed what it described as a “Lucas-type” American drone over Bandar Abbas County in Hormozgan province. The claim, reported through Iran’s Mehr News Agency, came just one day after the US reportedly deployed sea drones in their first combat operation targeting the Bandar Abbas naval base.
US officials have not confirmed the Iranian claim.
What happened near Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas sits at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a massive share of global crude oil passes daily.
Iran’s military said its air defense systems detected and destroyed the American drone during heightened defense operations in the region. The “Lucas-type” designation hasn’t been widely corroborated by independent defense analysts.
