BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Today, another U.S. long-range MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was shot down by Iranian air defense forces in Iran’s central Isfahan province, Trend reports, citing the press service of the Iranian army.
According to the army's statement, with the shooting down of the UAV in question, the tally of UAVs brought down by the Air Defense Forces in Iranian skies has hit 146.
Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day.
On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third Supreme Leader by majority vote.
From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.
The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the region’s energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region.
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