Iranian tribals struck two US Black Hawk helicopters in mountainous terrain: IRGC

Iranian tribal fighters from central Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Bakhtiari provinces struck two US Black Hawk helicopters that had entered Iranian airspace, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Saturday.

IRGC said the helicopters were operating in rugged, inaccessible mountainous areas far from the presence of Iran's regular armed forces.

They had reportedly crossed into Iranian territory to rescue pilots from the American fighter jet that was downed by IRGC air defense forces.

Each tribal group independently engaged and successfully struck the two Black Hawk helicopters, the IRGC said in the statement.

The IRGC lauded the tribal fighters as "valiant" who have always been brave, honorable, and victorious guardians of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The incident marks a notable development in the ongoing US-Israeli military aggression against Iran, now in its sixth week.

According to experts, it suggests that irregular and locally organized resistance forces are playing an active role in confronting foreign military incursions, particularly in difficult terrain where conventional forces are less present.

Iranian integrated air defense forces downed at least two fighter jets and five drones and missiles on Friday, describing it as a "black day" for the American and Israeli air forces.

The IRGC's Aerospace Defense Force fighters successfully hunted and destroyed two cruise missiles in the skies of Khomein and Zanjan, according to the statement.

Additionally, two MQ-9 attack drones were shot down in the skies of Isfahan, and one Hermes drone was destroyed in the skies of Bushehr.

Also on Friday, Iran's Army announced that it downed an American A-10 Warthog warplane over the country's southern waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

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