Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson).
An MQ-9 Reaper combat drone belonging to the United States military crashed in the central Iraqi province of Babylon on July 2, with videos later posted to social media suggesting it was shot down.
The drone reportedly crashed in the Muwailha area, part of the Iskandariya district in the northern countryside of Babil. One video posted online shows the drone falling from the sky engulfed in flames, suggesting it was targeted. Two other videos show the wreckage burning on the ground. The footage leaves no doubt that the drone was a Reaper.
MQ-9s are used primarily to collect intelligence but also have the ability to conduct pinpoint strikes. The advanced drones can operate for more than 27 hours and reach altitudes above 25,000 feet.
The drone was very likely shot down by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group for Iran-backed armed factions. The IRI is known to possess some advanced air-defense systems and has shot down MQ-9s in the past.
The U.S. has lost at least two other MQ-9s over Iraq since the start of its war on Iran earlier this year — one on March 9 and another on June 7. The IRI was reportedly responsible for both.
According to Wikipedia’s list of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Iran war, the U.S. military has so far lost 35 MQ-9s. The list includes only losses confirmed by visual evidence or official acknowledgment from the parties involved. That figure excludes the latest loss over Iraq, as well as two other Reapers shot down over Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthis.
The total cost of these drones exceeds $1 billion; each MQ-9 costs an average of $30 million. Beyond the financial toll, the loss of more than three dozen drones has had a direct impact on U.S. military capabilities.
It’s worth noting that the latest incident came just hours after Saudi Arabia blamed Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq for a drone attack on one of its largest oil-processing facilities — despite the Houthis having claimed responsibility.
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the iraqi resistance is not discussed in slop media. kuwait is no longer capable of controlling iraqs oil exports. how much iraqi currency from oil sales is held in globalist banks without access abilities ? banker control of oil markets / prices fade.
july 2 why the big delay in news
que porcarias de mq-9 raptores. já foram derrubados centenas deles, não servem pra nada. são fregueses dos houthíes faz tempo. dronezinho de lata de lixo.