Iran Says Its Air Defenses Shot Down a US MQ-9 Drone Over Qeshm Island

Iran’s army said its air defense systems shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Qeshm Island, according to Iranian state media, in the latest Iranian claim of a downed American aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz. The United States had not publicly confirmed the claim as of Friday night.

The Army’s Public Relations Office said in a statement that the drone was intercepted and destroyed by fire from air defense systems operating under Iran’s integrated air defense network, Press TV reported. The announcement was carried by Iranian state media early Saturday local time. Qeshm Island sits near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries a large share of the world’s seaborne oil.

A week of drone claims and strikes

The claim follows a string of Iranian reports of downed US drones this week. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Friday that its air defenses destroyed a US MQ-1 drone over the same island, according to Iranian state media. Earlier in the week, the Guard said it had brought down several US-made MQM-170 reconnaissance drones over Qeshm Island. None of those claims has been confirmed by the United States.

Qeshm Island was also the site of US airstrikes on Nov. 2. US officials confirmed those strikes at the time, describing them as defensive actions taken after Iranian surface-to-air missile activity threatened US aircraft.

What the MQ-9 is

The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed reconnaissance drone used by the US military for surveillance and strikes. Press TV described the aircraft as able to fly at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and carry Hellfire missiles, with each unit costing about $30 million.

The claim comes days after President Donald Trump said a decision on resuming US strikes on Iran is coming soon, after meeting with security advisers.

Reporting based on coverage by Press TV, Anadolu Agency and Nmkhabar.