Iran downs US-made drone amid ongoing Israeli aggression
4 Min Read
Iran reports multiple drone interceptions across western provinces as Israeli aggression intensifies.
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US President Donald Trump smiles backdropped by an MQ-9 Reaper drone before addressing military personnel at the Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (AP)
Iranian air defense units successfully intercepted a hostile drone on Monday in the Dasht-e Abbas plain, located in the western region of the country. The drone, identified as an MQ-9 Reaper, is manufactured in the United States by defense contractor General Atomics.
Iranian state television confirmed that the drone was shot down after violating Iranian airspace. The MQ-9 Reaper, a combat and surveillance drone used extensively by the US and its allies, is estimated to cost over $60 million per system when accounting for associated infrastructure and training.
According to Iranian media, another drone was brought down over Ilam Province, also in the west. Simultaneously, air defense systems were activated in Kermanshah, responding to hostile aerial incursions.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran reported that Iranian air defense systems also engaged multiple aerial targets above the capital. Many of the unmanned aircraft involved in the Israeli aggression were described as quadcopters, typically used for short-range reconnaissance or targeted strikes.
A video circulated on social media shows a fire that broke out at the Haifa power station following an #Iranian missile strike. pic.twitter.com/uD8nNQRZrX
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 16, 2025
This comes as the Israeli aggression on Iran enters its fourth consecutive day, with overnight retaliatory Iranian missile strikes hitting an Israeli oil refinery and damaging sections of the power grid in a forceful act of retaliation.
Iran's Pezeshkian: We neither started the war nor sought one - IRNA
During a parliamentary session on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a powerful address condemning the Israeli entity’s ongoing crimes, including the assassination of Iranian commanders, scientists, and civilians. His remarks came during the review of credentials for Ali Madanizadeh, nominee for minister of economic affairs and finance.
Pezeshkian denounced the killings as part of a broader campaign of intimidation, affirming that such actions would not weaken Iran’s resolve. “The enemy cannot drive us or our nation off the stage through killing, assassination, or intimidation,” he said. “For every hero whose flag falls, hundreds more will rise.”
He emphasized Iran’s historic resilience, noting that the people have consistently confronted betrayal and violence with dignity and strength.
Calling for solidarity, Pezeshkian urged Iranians to set aside internal grievances in the face of what he described as a “brutal and genocidal campaign” targeting the nation. “Now, more than ever, our country needs unity and cohesion,” he stressed. “Only through solidarity can we resist and prevail.”
The president reiterated that Iran neither sought the war nor initiated one and has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons, reaffirming Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei's religious edict against weapons of mass destruction.
