Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim to have shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the Persian Gulf, the military force said in a statement on Monday.
What the Guards said
The Guards' statement did not specify the time or exact location of the incident. It said air defense units engaged the drone and brought it down. No photographic or video evidence was released with the announcement. The claim could not be independently verified.
The MQ-9 Reaper
The MQ-9 is a large, long-endurance unmanned aircraft operated by the US military. It is used primarily for surveillance and reconnaissance but can also carry precision-guided munitions. The drone can stay aloft for up to 27 hours and operate at altitudes above 40,000 feet. It is a common asset in US operations across the Middle East.
Unanswered questions
The Revolutionary Guards did not say when the incident occurred, how the drone was brought down, or what happened to the wreckage. No immediate response was available from the United States. The claim adds to a series of military confrontations in the Persian Gulf region. The Guards have in the past released footage of what they said were downed drones, but those claims have sometimes been disputed.
The Guards provided no further details on their latest claim.
