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Iran Says It Shot Down a US MQ-1 Drone Off Sirik Near Strait of Hormuz
Iran said on Friday that its navy shot down a United States MQ-1 drone off the coast of Sirik, near the Strait of Hormuz, hours after claiming it had destroyed an American early-warning radar installation in Bahrain. The twin claims, announced on Friday, November 13, 2026, are one of the sharpest single-day escalations in the nine-month US-Iran war. Neither has been independently confirmed.
Iran's Army Navy said its air-defence units tracked and brought down the MQ-1 in the Kuhestak area off Sirik, in Hormozgan province, using a newly deployed naval air-defence system. The navy vowed it "will not hesitate for a moment" to defend the country's territorial integrity and maritime borders.
Hours earlier, the Revolutionary Guard said its Aerospace Force had "targeted and destroyed" the US radar site in Bahrain, in retaliation for an enemy air attack on a telecom tower in Sirik on Thursday. The Guard called the strike "a serious warning" and said it stands ready "to engage without limits".
Key Points
- Iran's Army Navy says it shot down a US MQ-1 drone off Sirik in the Kuhestak area near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, using a newly deployed naval air-defence system.
- Hours earlier, the Revolutionary Guard said it had "targeted and destroyed" a US early-warning radar site in Bahrain, in retaliation for an enemy strike on a telecom tower in Sirik on Thursday.
- The Guard called it "a serious warning" and said it stands ready "to engage without limits".
- Neither claim has been independently confirmed. The US military and Bahrain did not immediately comment, and Central Command declined to comment on the drone claim.
- The claims came the same day Iran said an LPG tanker struck a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, on the war's 259th day.
What Happened
The Iranian Army Navy statement said the MQ-1 was detected and tracked before being brought down off Sirik. No wreckage was shown, no images were released, and no details were given about the drone's mission, its operator, or the exact time.
The Guard said the Bahrain radar installation provided early warning of incoming attacks. Its chief, Ahmad Vahidi, warned that any fresh American aggression would face a devastating response. "Our response will be devastating and painful," he said.
Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet at Naval Support Activity in Manama, the main command centre for American naval operations across the Middle East. Reuters noted it was the first Iranian claim of an attack on American military assets in a Gulf country since early September.
Background: A War in Its Ninth Month
The war between the United States and Iran began on February 28, 2026, and Friday marked its 259th day. What began with American and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets has become a grinding conflict fought across the Gulf and through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas normally passes.
Attacks on shipping have accelerated: at least 10 ships were hit in the first 10 days of November, after 37 in October, the highest monthly tally since the war began, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Drone claims have become routine: on October 29 Iran said it shot down a US MQ-1 off Sirik, its 14th MQ-1 kill, and a further MQ-1 claim followed on November 6 near Qeshm Island. Friday's claim is a separate incident, but it follows the same pattern: an Iranian announcement, no wreckage shown, and no American confirmation.
Iran Shoots Down US MQ-1 Drone: What Tehran Claims and What Is Unverified
The MQ-1 is an American long-endurance reconnaissance drone, the surveillance version of the Predator family. Iran says its navy tracked the aircraft with a newly deployed naval air-defence system and shot it down in the Kuhestak area, near Sirik and Qeshm Island.
Tehran has provided no evidence that would settle the claim: no photographs or video of wreckage, no serial number, and no coordinates. The US military has not confirmed losing an MQ-1, and no independent imagery of damage to the Bahrain radar site has been published. Analysts caution both claims should be treated as claims until evidence appears.
Reactions and Quotes
Iran's Army Navy said its forces "will not hesitate for a moment" to defend Iran's territorial integrity and maritime borders. The Guard called the radar strike "a serious warning" and warned it stands ready "to engage without limits".
On the American side, there was no immediate response. Central Command declined to comment on the drone claim, the Pentagon issued no statement, and Bahrain did not immediately comment. Gulf allies have previously urged President Trump to pause large-scale strikes, fearing a wider war would put their own cities and ports in the firing line.
Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint. Tanker attacks, mine strikes, and drone shootdowns raise insurance costs, push shippers toward longer routes, and feed into fuel prices. Brent crude has already swung sharply on war news this autumn.
The radar claim matters differently. An early-warning radar site in Bahrain is part of the shield protecting the Fifth Fleet and its Gulf hosts. If Iran can threaten that shield, the calculus for every American operation in the Gulf changes. The drone claim is a direct public claim of American hardware destroyed by Iranian fire.
What Happens Next
The first thing to watch is whether the United States confirms or denies the drone loss; a Pentagon or Central Command statement, or the release of imagery, would settle the question. The second is Bahrain: any confirmation of damage to the radar site, or any statement from Manama, would show whether the strike reached its target. The third is shipping: monitors will watch whether the tanker mine incident is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Iran really shoot down a US MQ-1 drone?
Iran says its navy shot down the drone off Sirik on Friday, November 13, 2026. It has not been independently confirmed, no wreckage has been shown, and US Central Command declined to comment.
Where is Sirik?
Sirik is a port city in Hormozgan province on Iran's Gulf coast, near the Strait of Hormuz. Kuhestak lies along the same stretch of coast, close to Qeshm Island.
What is an MQ-1 drone?
The MQ-1 is an American long-endurance reconnaissance drone, the surveillance version of the Predator family.
What happened in Bahrain?
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims its Aerospace Force destroyed a US early-warning radar site in Bahrain, in retaliation for an attack on a telecom tower in Sirik. Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters. The claim is unconfirmed.
How long has the US-Iran war lasted?
It began on February 28, 2026. Friday, November 13, 2026, was its 259th day.
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