As tensions continued around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran said it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle. Iranian authorities alleged that the aircraft had violated Iranian airspace.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said its air defense units detected the drone in the airspace of Hormozgan Province while conducting intelligence and surveillance operations. The Guards said the aircraft crashed after being targeted.
The Washington Post's report on US drone losses
The Washington Post reported that the United States had lost 45 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles used during its war against Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Citing US officials, the newspaper said the number amounted to approximately 25 percent of the US fleet of the same type of drone.
Tensions over maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz
The war between the United States and Iran raised tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and caused disruptions to maritime transport and global energy shipments.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, while Iran responded with attacks targeting US and Israeli sites in the region. The parties later reached a ceasefire agreement.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of maritime navigation on June 18. However, disagreements over the security of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted the implementation of the memorandum.
The United States resumed its attacks against Iran between July 8 and 24, while Iran targeted US military facilities and equipment in Arab countries. The parties resumed talks on establishing a corridor for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
