Iran claims downing of over 160 US and Israeli drones since February

Iran’s military says it has shot down more than 160 drones belonging to the United States and Israel since the start of the current conflict on February 28.

Ali Reza Alakhami, commander of Iran’s integrated air defenсe headquarters, said in remarks carried by Fars news agency that Iranian forces have maintained constant readiness to intercept incoming aerial threats.

“We are lying in wait for enemy fighter jets and drones, and their interception using modern domestic methods and equipment is fully ensured,” he said.

Alakhami stated that during what he described as the “Ramadan war,” Iranian air defenсe units destroyed several advanced enemy fighter aircraft along with more than 160 drones, including US MQ-9 systems and Israeli platforms such as Hermes and Lucas. He added that dozens of cruise missiles had also been intercepted.

“The brave air defenсe forces were able to destroy several modern enemy fighter jets and more than 160 drones, including MQ-9, Hermes, Lucas and other types belonging to hostile American and Zionist forces, as well as dozens of cruise missiles,” he said.

According to the commander, these operations were carried out with precision and in advance of any offensive actions, which he said undermined what he described as the enemy’s perceived strength.

He further claimed that the successful engagement, damage, and downing of multiple 4th- and 5th-generation fighter jets by both the army’s air defenсe units and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was made possible through tactical planning and the deployment of new domestically developed technologies and advanced air defenсe systems, which he said caused disorientation among opposing forces.

By Tamilla Hasanova