Iran Downed Two U.S. Drones in Recent Days, Officials Confirm

According to U.S. officials, Iranian military forces have successfully shot down at least two American MQ-1 unmanned aircraft in recent days. The officials, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized for public comment, confirmed the incident.

Details regarding the specific location where the drones were downed or the particular variant of the MQ-1 involved remain unclear. The U.S. military primarily operates two versions of this aircraft: the Predator and the Gray Eagle. The Air Force retired the Predator in 2018 after it became a staple of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while the Army continues to use the larger Gray Eagle, including units attached to special operations forces.

Both variants were primarily designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance duties, though they are also capable of carrying Hellfire missiles for strike missions. In the Strait of Hormuz, such unmanned systems provide persistent monitoring of the critical waterway, tracking Iranian military movements and safeguarding commercial shipping routes.

If the lost aircraft were the older MQ-1 Predators, their value would amount to approximately $8 million. However, Gray Eagles are significantly more costly, with prices reaching tens of millions of dollars per unit.

These losses contribute to a broader tally of aerial assets gone during the ongoing conflict. A report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office indicated that at least 24 MQ-9 Reapers have been lost since the war began, representing an estimated $720 million in losses. The same report noted the destruction of an MQ-4C Triton, valued at roughly $150 million.

The U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations against Iran, declined to comment on the latest incident.