WASHINGTON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military has lost 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, CBS News reported Wednesday, citing two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
Iranian state media reported Monday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has "intercepted and destroyed" a U.S. MQ-9 over Isfahan.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, but it can also be used to carry out precision strikes.
Depending on the variant of Reaper drone, a single aircraft can cost upwards of 30 million U.S. dollars, according to the CBS News report.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have repeatedly claimed that Iran's air defenses and missile launch capabilities have been virtually wiped out during the monthlong U.S.-Israeli strikes. ■
