Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that it had shot down a US MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the IRGC said Iranian air defence systems detected the drone over the island at 2259 GMT on Tuesday (2.29 am local time) before shooting it down.

It claimed the aircraft was the 52nd drone of the same type to have been downed during the conflict.

The US military did not immediately comment on the claim.

The IRGC said on Tuesday that it had also shot down three US MQ-1 drones over the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas.

The US and Israel launched large-scale attacks against Iran on February 28, targeting government buildings, military sites, missile infrastructure and air defences. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US bases across the region.

The conflict has since spread across the region, as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the hostilities.