Commander reports interception of advanced drones and aircraft during conflict with U.S and Israel

Iran’s air defense forces intercepted more than 170 drones during the recent conflict involving the United States and Israel, a senior military commander said on Saturday during National Army Day commemorations.

Brigadier General Amir Alireza Elhami, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Joint Air Defense Headquarters, said the drones were part of what he described as a U.S-Israeli aggression against Iran. The remarks were delivered in a televised address marking April 18.

Elhami said the intercepted drones included advanced reconnaissance models such as the Hermes 900, MQ-9, and Heron, which he described as equipped with self-defense systems and high-level surveillance technology. “These were not mere basic drones; they were equipped with weaponry for self-defense and advanced technological reconnaissance tools,” he said.

He also reported the interception of an American MQ-4 Type C reconnaissance aircraft over the Persian Gulf, describing it as a development that led to U.S acknowledgment of Iran’s air defense capabilities.

According to Elhami, Iranian forces also neutralized multiple advanced fighter jets, including F-35, F-15, F-16, F-18, and A-10 aircraft. He said these actions reflected the readiness of Iran’s armed forces to defend national airspace.

Rejecting claims that Iran’s air defense systems had been destroyed, he said: “The answer to this unfounded accusation can be encapsulated in one question: Who was responsible for the destruction of 170 types of enemy drones? What brought down the enemy’s F-15, F-35, F-18, F-16, and A-10 fighter jets?”

Elhami added that Iran’s ground, air, and naval forces remain engaged in protecting the country’s territorial boundaries and called on the public to continue supporting the armed forces.

The address also included condolences for the deaths of senior figures, including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and military officials, referenced by Elhami in his remarks.

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