Iran claims downing of U.S. MQ-1 drone over Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday it had shot down a U.S. MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz, the 14th such aircraft it has destroyed.

In a statement, the IRGC's public relations office said the unmanned aerial vehicle was brought down by an advanced air defense system operated by the Corps' Aerospace Force.

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Iran claims downing of U.S. MQ-1 drone over Strait of Hormuz

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Iran claims downing of U.S. MQ-1 drone over Strait of Hormuz

There was no immediate response from the United States.

The MQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft developed by General Atomics.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

Trade between the nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries hit a record 5.58 trillion yuan (around 837 billion U.S. dollars) during the first three quarters of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 26.7 percent, according to the latest customs data.

High-end manufactured goods, including machinery, electronic goods and integrated circuits, along with green products, were the main drivers of this growth.

The nine major cities in the GBA are Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province. Together with the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, these cities form one of China's most dynamic economic hubs.