CBS news: At least two US drones shot down by Iranian forces

At least two US military drones have been shot down by Iranian forces during recent attacks in the Middle East, CBS News reported, citing unnamed US officials.

According to the network, the aircraft were identified as belonging to the MQ-1 family of unmanned aerial vehicles, although the specific model involved was not immediately clear.

The officials also did not disclose where in the Middle East the two drones were downed or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding their loss.

Different variants of US unmanned aircraft vary significantly in cost and capability. The older MQ-1 Predator has been valued at around $4 million per aircraft, while variants of the Gray Eagle system can cost considerably more.

The reported losses come amid growing scrutiny of the number of US unmanned aircraft lost during the continuing conflict with Iran.

A report issued this week by the US Congressional Budget Office indicated that 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones had been lost since March, according to the account of the report.

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that it had shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC also claimed that the aircraft was the 53^rd MQ-9 brought down during the conflict.