Iran Shoots Down US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz using a newly developed advanced air-defence system, according to Iranian state media.

The IRGC said Iranian air-defence forces detected and engaged the American drone in the eastern section of the strategic waterway, bringing it down over the Gulf.

The MQ-9 Reaper is an advanced US unmanned aircraft used primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and can also carry out armed operations.

The incident comes amid a sharp escalation between Iran and the United States following recent US strikes on Iranian positions on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran subsequently launched missile attacks against US military facilities in Jordan and carried out attacks against US-linked targets in the region.

According to the IRGC, the MQ-9 was brought down using a new advanced Iranian air-defence system.

Iranian media reported that the drone crashed into Gulf waters after being hit by Iranian air-defence fire.

The development represents another significant confrontation involving US unmanned aircraft in the region as tensions continue to rise around the Strait of Hormuz.

The reported shootdown has not been publicly confirmed by US authorities. International reports said Washington had not immediately acknowledged the loss of an MQ-9 Reaper in the incident.

The latest confrontation follows the US military’s strikes against Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, which Washington said were being prepared for operations involving sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran condemned the US operation and responded with attacks against American military positions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the escalating confrontation between Iran and the United States.

The strategically important waterway is a major route for global oil and gas shipments, meaning any prolonged disruption could have significant consequences for international energy markets.

The latest escalation, including the reported destruction of the US MQ-9 Reaper, has further increased concerns over the security of commercial shipping and the future of energy supplies passing through the strategic waterway.