Iran says it downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hormuz Strait
Iranian forces claim to have shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, a report that the U.S. has not confirmed.
According to Iranian media, a new advanced air-defence system destroyed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft over the strategic Hormuz waterway. The statement also noted that Iran has allegedly eliminated more than 50 drones of this type since the conflict began. The U.S. military has not immediately verified the incident, and independent confirmation is lacking. The MQ-9 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV operated by the U.S. Air Force. Since the February attacks on Iran, U.S. forces have lost or damaged dozens of aircraft and drones, costing billions of dollars.
Why it matters
The reported shoot-down raises tensions in a crucial oil transit route and highlights the cost of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.
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