On 9/3, CBS, citing two unnamed US officials, reported that the US military lost two more MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during offensive operations against Iran. This brings the total loss of such aircraft to 11, equivalent to a loss of at least 330 million USD.

The causes of these incidents were not disclosed. US officials told CBS last week that one MQ-9 crashed off the coast of Iran, and another was shot down, seemingly by Qatari forces in a friendly fire incident.

The Pentagon has not commented on the information.

Iran's Mehr News Agency, on the same day, cited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claiming it shot down two US MQ-9 aircraft in Bushehr province. The released video shows Reapers being tracked by infrared sensors before being hit and exploding.

Moments believed to show two US MQ-9 aircraft attacked by Iran in a video posted on 9/3. Video: IRGC.

OSINTWarfare, an account specializing in open-source intelligence on social media platform X, suggested the IRGC may have used 358 or Ghaem-118 anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down the US UAVs.

This is not the first time Iran has claimed shooting down US UAVs since the conflict began. Tehran previously posted videos of MQ-9 shootdowns and photos of alleged debris from this aircraft type.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a military UAV manufactured by the US-based General Atomics corporation for its air force. It can fly at altitudes over 15,000 meters and operate continuously for 24 hours. The US Congressional Research Service states each MQ-9 costs approximately 30 million USD ex-factory.

It can perform roles in intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack.

CBS noted the MQ-9 is vulnerable to being shot down because it was designed for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency missions in areas with limited air defense systems, rather than for confronting nations possessing modern missiles.

Alleged debris of a US MQ-9 UAV in a photo posted on 7/3. Photo: IRIB.

The Middle East has been engulfed in conflict since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on 28/2. The IRGC retaliated by launching missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at Israel and US bases in Arab countries in the region.

Beyond the MQ-9 fleet, the US military also lost at least three F-15E Strike Eagle heavy fighter jets, each valued at over 60 million USD, after being shot down by Kuwaiti fighter jets. Eight US service members have died since the conflict began, with one dying due to a "health issue," according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Pham Giang (According to CBS, Mehr News)