Iran claims downing U.S. MQ-9 near Strait of Hormuz; Washington Post reports 45 Reapers lost
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its air defense units shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz. The written statement did not specify a date or provide evidence. The claim came after Washington Post, citing U.S. officials, reported that the United States lost 45 MQ-9 Reapers during the war with Iran, about 25 percent of the fleet.
Iran's Claim
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a written statement saying its air defense units detected and shot down one U.S. MQ-9 Reaper over Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz. The statement said the drone violated Iranian airspace, but did not specify the date of the incident or offer visual evidence. The claim was circulated by Turkey's Sabah newspaper, which cited the Revolutionary Guard statement.
U.S. Drone Losses
Washington Post reported that the U.S. military lost 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, with heavy use near the Strait of Hormuz. The figure equals about 25 percent of the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper fleet, according to the newspaper, which cited U.S. officials. The report did not link the Iranian claim to the 45 losses.
What's Next
The U.S. military is expected to comment on the Iranian claim in its next regional briefing. It remains unclear whether the reported shootdown, if confirmed, is included in the 45 MQ-9 losses reported by Washington Post or represents a separate incident.
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Iran claims downing U.S. MQ-9 near Strait of Hormuz; Washington Post reports 45 Reapers lost
