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Iranian Forces Down Two American Unmanned Aircraft in Middle East
Just the facts
U.S. officials reported that the remotely piloted aircraft were brought down while conducting surveillance operations near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military utilizes two main MQ-1 aircraft variants, including the Air Force's retired Predator and the Army's operational Gray Eagle, both capable of carrying Hellfire missiles. A Congressional Budget Office report published earlier in the week estimated that U.S. forces have lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones valued at $720 million and one MQ-4C Triton drone valued at $150 million during the ongoing military conflict with Iran.
Why this is news
United States officials confirmed that Iranian military forces brought down at least two American MQ-1 unmanned aircraft operating in the Middle East region.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.