Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Sep 18: At least two US military drones have been shot down by Iranian forces during recent attacks in the Middle East, CBS News reported, citing unnamed US officials.

According to the report, the aircraft belonged to the MQ-1 family of unmanned aerial vehicles, although the specific variants involved were not immediately identified. The officials did not disclose where the drones were downed or provide details about the circumstances surrounding their loss.

The reported drone losses come amid increased scrutiny over US unmanned aircraft casualties during the ongoing conflict with Iran. A US Congressional Budget Office report issued this week indicated that 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones had been lost since March.

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that it had shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC claimed the aircraft was the 53rd MQ-9 drone to have been brought down during the conflict. The claim has not been independently verified.

The MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper are different US unmanned aircraft systems with varying capabilities and costs. The reported incidents add to concerns over the vulnerability of US drones amid continuing military operations in the region.