Iran’s military claims it shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone east of the Strait of Hormuz on August 31, 2026, with the aircraft reportedly crashing into Gulf waters. US officials have not confirmed the incident. American drone losses in the region have reached approximately 30 aircraft since the beginning of 2026, representing an estimated cost of $900 million. The IRGC attributes the shootdown to a new air defense system called Arash-e Kamangir, whose use has not been independently verified. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically important maritime chokepoints in the world, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passing through its waters.
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