TEHRAN — August 16, 2026: Iran says its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has shot down another U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan.

According to Iranian state-linked media, the drone was intercepted by a newly deployed Iranian air-defense system operating as part of the country’s integrated air-defense network. Iranian officials said the MQ-9 was destroyed after entering Iranian airspace.

The reported incident comes amid mounting losses of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones during the ongoing conflict. The Washington Post reported that U.S. officials said at least 45 Reapers — roughly one-quarter of the U.S. fleet — have been lost during the war with Iran.

Iran has previously claimed responsibility for bringing down other American drones, including an MQ-9 over Hormozgan in July.

However, Iran’s latest claim has not been independently verified, and there has been no public U.S. confirmation specifically confirming that the Hormozgan incident resulted in the loss of another Reaper.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important areas in the conflict, with U.S. surveillance and military operations continuing around the region.

If confirmed, another Reaper loss would add to a growing series of costly setbacks for the U.S. drone fleet.