Iran has officially announced that it shot down a US-owned MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, the drone crashed into the Persian Gulf following the incident.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reported that international media outlets confirmed the downing of the aircraft. This development follows a series of military exchanges in the region, including reported US strikes on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched ballistic missile attacks against the Muwaffaq Salti and King Hussein air bases in Jordan, which are utilized by US forces.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a critical asset in the US military's surveillance and strike capabilities. According to a report published by the Washington Post, the US has lost at least 45 of these drones during operations involving Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. US officials have noted that these losses represent approximately 25 percent of the total MQ-9 Reaper fleet, highlighting the high-stakes nature of aerial operations in this strategically vital waterway.
