IRGC Claims Downing of US Drone as Hormuz Traffic Dwindles; Pakistan Mediates (Sep 21, 1028 UTC, 1328 Israel) (Evening Edition)

• Drone Claim — The IRGC's Aerospace Force said it intercepted and destroyed another US MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz using a new air-defense system operating under Iran's Integrated Air-Defense Network Al-Manar TV. The IRGC statement, carried by state media, said the US has been forced to use the MQ-1 again after losing a large portion of its MQ-9s, and that both are being "extensively hunted" by the new system Middle East Eye. Iran's central military command separately said it has received information that the US is preparing to resume strikes on the country, and Tehran threatened retaliation Al Jazeera English. The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and Khatam al-Anbya Central Headquarters issued a statement pledging a strong response to any new aggression, particularly from the US and Israel IRNA.
• Hormuz Closure Vow — Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless its demands are fulfilled and the US meets its commitments Arutz Sheva. Ghalibaf also said the US "appears to project hegemony and superior power but is in reality fully exposed" IRNA.
• UNGA Trip — President Masoud Pezeshkian will travel to New York on Tuesday to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly IRNA. Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement ahead of the session calling on the international community to take action to stop what it described as the genocide of Palestinians by Israel Mehr News.
• Diplomatic Rhetoric — Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot over human rights allegations, accusing Paris of silence over the killing of Iranian schoolchildren by the US IRNA.

A Merkava tank targeted the Baraachit-Kounin-Beit Yahoun triangle with several artillery shells, and artillery shelling also hit Wadi al-Salouqi Bint Jbeil News. Al-Manar's correspondent reported constant Israeli drone activity over Beirut's Dahiyeh Al-Manar TV. Journalist Bassam Abou Zeid said talk of a cabinet reshuffle in Prime Minister Salam's government has no basis so far, though there is media and political discussion about a possible resignation of the energy minister Bint Jbeil News.

• Casualties — Gaza health officials said four people were killed in Israeli strikes, including a 10-year-old girl Arab News. Quds News Network reported that a Palestinian child, a woman, and a young man were killed by gunfire from Israeli forces stationed beyond the occupied areas, firing on Palestinians sheltering in Palestinian-controlled areas under Trump's plan Quds News Network. A Palestinian child, Ismail Al-Bardawil, was killed by a gunshot to the chest from Israeli military vehicles firing at Palestinians in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis Quds News Network. A Palestinian woman was critically injured by Israeli army gunfire at Salah Al-Din Road in the central Gaza Strip Quds News Network. Al-Manar reported a Palestinian was killed by Israeli occupation fire in Mawasi Rafah, in southern Gaza Al-Manar TV.
• Demolition Plan — Gaza's Government Media Office announced an "urgent emergency plan" to demolish 255 buildings damaged by Israeli attacks across the enclave, with ministries issuing directives to begin field operations and implement evacuation plans Middle East Eye.

Israeli forces raided the town of Biddu, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem, following the alleged killing of an Israeli settler by a Palestinian from the town near the Halamish settlement on Sunday. At least 53 Palestinians were detained, with soldiers turning several homes into detention centers and interrogating dozens of young men, according to Biddu Mayor Nazmi Mansour Middle East Eye. A Palestinian man was injured in the hand after Israeli forces detonated the door of his home in Biddu Quds News Network. Israeli forces closed the Tayasir and Ein Shibli military checkpoints in the northern Jordan Valley on Sunday, preventing 104 Palestinian teachers from reaching their schools and disrupting classes for around 1,100 students, according to Tubas education director Azmi Balawneh Quds News Network.

• ICC Sanctions — The Trump administration has prepared sanctions against the entire International Criminal Court and plans to announce them soon, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The measures could disrupt payments, IT services, and investigations, and significantly limit the tribunal's ability to operate within the international financial system Al Arabiya English Al Jazeera English Arutz Sheva. The move is the latest escalation against the Hague-based court over its investigations into war crimes by the US and Israel Quds News Network.
• Pakistan Mediation — Pakistani Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi departed Islamabad for Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian officials, with a source at Pakistan's Interior Ministry saying the visit will discuss mediation efforts and ways to end the current deadlock Bint Jbeil News Middle East Eye. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the visit would focus on expanding bilateral relations and coordination on matters of mutual interest, and that he was unaware of any specific message or proposal from the US to be conveyed during the trip BBC News Persian.

• Syria: Aleppo Explosions — At least four people were injured early Monday when a series of explosions tore through a Syrian army ammunition depot near the town of Al-Eis in southern Aleppo countryside, according to state media. Exploding missiles and ammunition hampered rescue efforts, and authorities closed nearby roads Al Jazeera English Arab News Middle East Eye. It is the fifth reported explosion at a weapons or ammunition depot in Syria this month Middle East Eye.
• Hormuz Shipping — A dozen commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, down from 35 the prior weekend, according to shipping data from Kpler Reuters Iran International Middle East Eye. Visible traffic through the strait has dwindled sharply, though Middle Eastern producers continue exporting oil on tankers traveling with transponders switched off Iran International. A new shuttling system is reshaping the Middle East oil market as producers seek to keep exports flowing despite the escalating regional conflict Reuters.
• Yemen — The Houthis have threatened Saudi economic destruction via strikes on energy infrastructure, and the Saudi East-West pipeline shutdown is squeezing Asian imports TLDR Iran SITREP.