Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed that its forces had brought down a US MQ-1 drone after it allegedly entered Iranian territorial waters, according to a report by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.Iranian media said the drone was detected while attempting to carry out hostile operations and was subsequently shot down by the country's air defence systems.The claim comes days after the IRGC declared that it retained the "legitimate and definite" right to respond to any violation of the ceasefire by the United States. On Tuesday, the force also announced that its air defence units had downed a US MQ-9 drone.Local media reports further said the IRGC had engaged a fighter aircraft that allegedly entered Iranian airspace.The developments follow a series of recent US military actions against Iranian targets. Earlier this week, the US military struck missile launch positions and mine-laying boats in southern Iran, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM)."US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins said in a statement."Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire," he said.On Thursday, the US military carried out fresh overnight strikes targeting a military facility in Iran that Washington said posed a threat to American personnel and commercial shipping operating in the region, according to multiple US media reports.US officials described the operation as defensive in nature and maintained that the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remained intact despite the latest military activity.Meanwhile, Iranian news agency Fars reported that three explosions were heard near the eastern outskirts of Bandar Abbas, a key port city on the Strait of Hormuz, at around 1.30 am local time on Thursday.Washington has repeatedly cited Iran’s nuclear programme as a key factor behind its confrontation with Tehran and its support for Israeli military action, arguing that the Islamic Republic poses a threat because of its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.What's MQ-1 Predator The MQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the American defence company General Atomics. Introduced in the mid-1990s, it became one of the world's first drones capable of carrying out both surveillance and strike missions, fundamentally changing modern warfare.Initially designed for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and target tracking, the MQ-1 gained prominence during US military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere after it was armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. This allowed it to identify and engage targets without risking a pilot's life.The drone measures around 8.2 metres in length with a wingspan of approximately 16.8 metres. Powered by a Rotax piston engine, it can fly at speeds of up to 217 km/h and remain airborne for more than 24 hours. Its operational range exceeds 1,000 kilometres when controlled through satellite links.The MQ-1 carries advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors, enabling day-and-night surveillance. Real-time video and intelligence collected by the drone can be transmitted directly to commanders and troops on the ground.Although the US Air Force officially retired the MQ-1 Predator in 2018 and replaced it with the more capable MQ-9 Reaper, the aircraft remains one of the most influential military drones ever built and helped establish the blueprint for modern armed UAV operations.Catch all LIVE updates on the US-Iran conflict here.