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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on May 26 published videos showing its air defenses engaging U.S. warplanes over the Persian Gulf during a clash earlier in the week.
One of the videos shows an MQ-9 Reaper combat drone getting shot down, while the second shows an anti-aircraft missile engaging an F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet. The IRGC said in a statement released earlier in the day that an RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance drone was also targeted.
MQ-9 drones, which cost upwards of $30 million per a unit, are primarily used to collect intelligence, but have the ability to conduct pinpoint strikes. The advanced drones can operate for more than 27 hours and reach altitudes of over 25,000 feet.
According to one recent report, the U.S. has lost more than two dozen such drones since the start of the war on Iran. The losses represent around 20 percent of the fleet in service, and worth upwards of $1 billion.
Early on in the war, both the U.S. and Israel claimed that Iran’s air defense network was wrecked. However, with time, it became clear that the Islamic Republic managed to rebuild its air defenses, very much on most levels. Further improvement has been reported since the start of the ceasefire.
The IRGC targeted the warplanes in response to earlier U.S. strikes on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which the Central Command said hit boats attempting to lay mines and missile launch sites in “defensive actions.” Four Iranians were reportedly killed, with reports claiming that they were members of the guards.
The Iranian military warned later that the Islamic Republic would respond more forcefully to any new attack by the U.S. or Israel.
Despite the escalation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that an agreement with the Islamic Republic is still possible.
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