Iran Claims It Shot Down US MQ-9 Drone Amid Fresh Tensions
Iran Claims It Shot Down US MQ-9 Drone Amid Fresh Tensions Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 14:38 IST The IRGC said its air
Iran Claims It Shot Down US MQ-9 Drone Amid Fresh Tensions Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 14:38 IST The IRGC said its air defence systems targeted an MQ-9 drone, an RQ-4 surveillance drone and an F-35 fighter jet after detecting what it described as “hostile aircraft.” Rapid Read According to a Bloomberg report, Washington has lost at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones. US-Iran War: Iran on Tuesday claimed that Iranian forces shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone and forced an American fighter jet to retreat after allegedly entering Iranian airspace. As per reports by Al Jazeera and Iran International, the IRGC said its air defence systems targeted an MQ-9 drone, an RQ-4 surveillance drone and an F-35 fighter jet after detecting what it described as “hostile aircraft." The Iranian military did not specify when the incidents took place but warned that it reserved the “legitimate and definite" right to respond to any ceasefire violations by the United States. We shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone… while an F-35 and RQ-4 turned around and fled.The era where West Asia bows quietly to intimidation is long over.#Iran According to reports by the Fars news agency, an unmanned aerial vehicle was neutralised over maritime areas near Qeshm Island, situated close to the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz late on Monday.
Iranian forces reportedly deployed advanced indigenous defence systems to destroy the craft, utilising the country’s Arash-e Kamangir interceptor drone system, which was described as a freshly integrated defence mechanism equipped with “hidden capabilities". The news agency further emphasised the significance of the interception, noting, “This operation, which was carried out using a system with hidden capabilities, is a clear and decisive message from Iran." The Iran’s claim came after US forces conducted “self-defence" strikes against military targets in southern Iran. CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins told Fox that the precision strikes directly targeted missile launch sites and Iranian vessels that were actively attempting to emplace naval mines. According to Captain Hawkins, the operation was executed to protect American troops from imminent threats posed by Iranian forces. The latest developments have further raised tensions between Iran and the United States amid concerns over the stability of the ongoing ceasefire. Meanwhile, reports also suggested that the US has suffered significant drone losses during the conflict.
According to a Bloomberg report, Washington has lost at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones since fighting escalated earlier this year, with several reportedly shot down by Iranian forces. Priced at about $3 million each, Reaper drones carry high-powered sensors, including camera. They are no longer manufactured for the US military, says the report. Additionally, a Congressional Research Service report earlier this month stated that 24 Reapers had been lost, acknowledging the “loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions". The US has also lost two crewed aircraft since the war began – an F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 Thunderbolt II. Other aircraft that Washington lost over Iran are – an E-3 airborne warning and control plane, KC-135 aerial tankers, three other F-15s and two MC-130J multi-purpose cargo planes, the news outlet reported. Meanwhile, a high-level Iranian delegation, including Tehran’s top negotiator and central bank chief, was in Doha to discuss an agreement with the US and the release of frozen funds. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha for talks on ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
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