MQ-9 Drone Downed? Iran Claims Strike As US Bombing Damage Children's Cancer Hospital

Published 16 July 2026 · health

MQ-9 Drone Downed? Iran Claims Strike As US Bombing Damage Children's Cancer Hospital Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 08:43 IST Iranian officials said

MQ-9 Drone Downed? Iran Claims Strike As US Bombing Damage Children's Cancer Hospital Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 08:43 IST Iranian officials said another US strike hit an army barracks, killing at least seven troops and injuring hundreds of people across the country. Rapid Read The hospital, which provides chemotherapy services to cancer patients, including children, was evacuated following the attack. (Image via X/@PressTV) The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated sharply overnight, with Washington carrying out fresh airstrikes on Iranian targets and renewing a blockade of the country’s ports. In response, Tehran targeted US allies in the Middle East and vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed “until the US ends its aggression." Follow LIVE Updates Here Explosions were heard in several locations in Iran, including Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Konarak, Rask City, Khondab, and the western city of Khorramabad, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Explosions were reported in Ahvaz, where Iran’s Mehr News Agency said an American strike damaged Shahid Baghaei Hospital, including its child cancer treatment department. The hospital, which provides chemotherapy services to cancer patients, including children, was evacuated following the attack. Iranian officials said another US strike hit an army barracks, killing at least seven troops and injuring hundreds of people across the country. Tehran claimed that the overall death toll from American strikes has reached 35, with more than 300 people wounded so far. Meanwhile, Iran’s state media reported that air defence systems were activated in Tehran to “counter hostile threats." Earlier reports also pointed to explosions near southern locations, including Qeshm and Bandar Imam Khomeini.

State media later said fresh US strikes targeted Bushehr, the site of Iran’s only civilian nuclear power plant. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces targeted Iranian military capabilities that could be used to threaten vessels passing through the strategic waterway. The US military also said one of its aircraft fired on and disabled an empty oil tanker attempting to breach the naval blockade of Iranian ports. CENTCOM said the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma was intercepted after an aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s smokestack. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," it said on X. Iran Claims It Downed MQ-9 Drone Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain in response to the American strikes. Air sirens were reported in Bahrain as attacks on civilian targets were intercepted, while Jordan’s armed forces said they had shot down three missiles launched from Iran. The IRGC also claimed that it intercepted and destroyed an “enemy" MQ-9 drone over the southwestern city of Andimeshk, according to the Tasnim news agency. The force said the drone was brought down using a new air defence system operated by its aerospace unit. Meanwhile, in Iraq, Kurdish forces said the US-led coalition intercepted and destroyed eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil, the capital of the northern Kurdistan region. AFP journalists reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke near the US consulate, though no casualties were reported. Trump Warns Of More Strikes Shortly after the US carried out its third wave of strikes within 24 hours, Trump said Iran was willing to reach a peace agreement, though he did not provide further details.