Iran says 82 US or Israeli drones shot down since war began

The Iranian Army said in a Saturday statement that the integrated network of air defense systems operated by the Joint Air Defense Command had downed 13 more advanced drones over the past 24 hours.

The statement said the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) included the MQ-9, Hermes, and Orbiter.

It said missile and artillery systems of the Ground Force and Air Defense units of the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) had contributed to the downing of the UAVs.

The drones were shot down in the northwestern, western, and southern regions of Iran, as well as in areas in and around the cities of Isfahan, Kerman, and Tehran.

IRGC navy drone unit launches massive attack on key US air base

IRGC reports a large‑scale strike on a strategic US air base, hitting key facilities used by US forces in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region.

“Since the beginning of the aggression by the American-Zionist enemy, the number of drones shot down by the defense systems of the Army and the IRGC has reached 82,” the statement said.

The statement comes as reports published in domestic media suggest Iranian armed forces have also managed to down several foreign jets trying to enter the country’s airspace from neighboring Kuwait.

The United States has blamed the downing on friendly fire from Kuwaiti armed forces.

Iran has carried out extensive retaliatory attacks on Israel and US with missiles and drones, successfully hitting targets in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military assets in regional countries.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir