CBS: US military lost 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones in war with Iran

The US military has lost 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, CBS News said Wednesday, citing two US officials speaking on condition of anonymity, Report informs.

Iranian state media said Monday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has "intercepted and destroyed" a US 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, according to the CBS News report.

US 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 US-Israeli strikes.