Iran Strikes Back: 12 Israeli Drones Shot Down Over Hamedan in Blow to Tel Aviv's Air Campaign

According to Saed News, Iran’s western air defense command has announced the downing of a dozen Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in what officials described as a sophisticated and coordinated air incursion by the Israeli military. The operation, which unfolded over the western province of Hamedan, involved both combat and reconnaissance drones operated by what Tehran refers to as the “Zionist regime.”

According to a statement issued by the public relations office of Iran’s western air defense zone and cited by Tasnim News Agency, the 12 drones were all detected, tracked, and destroyed within the zone of responsibility. Eight of the drone wreckages were reportedly recovered and transferred to Iran’s Central Air Defense Command for further analysis.

This marks one of the most extensive single-day air defense operations reported by Iran in recent years, underscoring the evolving tactics in the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Despite reported damage to certain Iranian defense systems during prior Israeli incursions, officials noted that all compromised platforms have since been repaired or replaced to maintain operational readiness. Iran has long emphasized its ability to regenerate air defense capacity quickly—a point that military sources say has been validated by this recent success.

The attempted aerial breach comes amid heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran, with both sides escalating operations involving drones, cyberwarfare, and covert intelligence activity. Analysts view this latest drone interception as a clear signal of Tehran’s resolve and its improving defensive capabilities in a conflict increasingly defined by technological sophistication.