U.S. Downs Iranian Cruise Missile and Drone as IRGC Fires at Hormuz Ships

U.S. aircraft shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a one-way attack drone after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces fired at commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz early Monday, CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said. Hawkins said the Iranian fire occurred within the preceding hour; the public reports did not identify the targeted ships or announce casualties or damage. The interception came during a new U.S. strike wave against Iranian missile systems, air defenses and IRGC boats, launched to protect civilian mariners and commercial traffic. It marked fresh Iranian counterfire after Tehran threatened regional launch points used against it.