IRGC says mines destroyed four foreign tankers, stopped two other vessels and shot down an MQ‑9 drone

Four tankers that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described as 'violators' and said attempted to transit a prohibited route south of the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly destroyed after striking naval mines and remain burning, the IRGC said. The IRGC also said it has detained or stopped two other vessels or boats it described as violators. Separately, the IRGC said it struck and downed an MQ‑9 drone at about 04:30 local time over the Strait of Hormuz; statements from the IRGC put the total number of similar shootdowns at 'fifty‑six.'