US MQ9 Drone Shot Down in Central Iran, Reports Say

Tehran, MINA – A US MQ9-type drone was shot down on Tuesday over the skies of Iran’s central city of Khomein in Markazi province, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The drone was downed by Iranian defense systems, the agency reported, without providing further details. The report came after the US Central Command announced that American forces had begun striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have remained high since the war began with strikes on Iran in late February. A framework deal was signed in June through Pakistani and Qatari mediation, but the US began a two-week bombing campaign in July and reimposed a naval blockade following disagreements over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The downing of the MQ9 drone marks the latest escalation in direct US-Iran military confrontation. The MQ9 Reaper is a long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle used by the US military for surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes.

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Iran has previously downed US drones, including a US Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk in June 2019, which brought the two countries to the brink of confrontation at the time.

Tuesday’s incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran vowing to respond to US strikes and Washington warning of further military action if Tehran retaliates.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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