IRGC Shoots Down US MQ-9 Drone Over Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on August 3, 2026, that its aerospace force shot down a United States MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz using a modern air defense system. This engagement follows a period of military escalation triggered by the collapse of a June 18 ceasefire, which President Donald Trump declared no longer in effect on July 8.

Since the ceasefire ended, the U.S. military has conducted attacks on Iran, while the IRGC has retaliated with strikes on U.S. bases in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The ongoing conflict has led to significant attrition of the U.S. Reaper fleet, with reports that over two dozen drones have been destroyed since February. This has reduced the operational fleet to approximately 135 aircraft, falling below the minimum requirement of 189.

Because General Atomics has shut down the MQ-9A production line, the United States Air Force is now attempting to acquire additional airframes to replenish its depleted inventory.