IRGC Air Defense Opens Fire Over Qeshm; Residents Report Aircraft Hit
TEHRAN -- Iran’s new air defense system intercepted a hostile aircraft and opened fire over Qeshm Island on Saturday afternoon, according to local reports.
The armed forces air defense system was activated twice on Saturday afternoon, over Qeshm Island, with the sound heard across different parts of the island.
Local residents said at least one aircraft was hit in the sky over Qeshm during the air defense activity. A booster from a domestic air defense missile was
also observed by local residents in one of the areas of Qeshm, with images circulating on social media.
The incident marks the second reported air defense engagement over Qeshm Island in recent days. On September 30, the IRGC Aerospace Force said its new air defense system had intercepted and destroyed a hostile aircraft over the island.
At the time, IRGC Aerospace Force commander Brigadier General Majid Mousavi said the system had successfully engaged a “hostile target” over Qeshm, adding that the aircraft was destroyed before it could carry out its mission.
Qeshm Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz, has been a focal point of military tensions since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February. The island’s position near the strategic waterway makes it a critical node for Iran’s air defense network.
In July, the IRGC said it had deployed new air defense systems to Qeshm and other islands in the Persian Gulf, describing them as part of a broader effort to protect Iran’s southern airspace.
The IRGC has repeatedly said its air defense forces have downed intruding drones and aircraft since the war began.
On September 22, the IRGC said it had intercepted and destroyed a “hostile drone” over the Strait of Hormuz. On September 15, Iranian air defense forces said they had engaged a “hostile aircraft” over Bushehr province.
Iranian officials have emphasized the domestically produced nature of the country’s air defense systems. IRGC Aerospace Force commander Brigadier General Majid Mousavi said in August that Iran’s air defense capabilities have reached a level where “no foreign assistance is required,” adding that the country’s systems are designed and manufactured entirely within Iran.