A Chinese Wing Loong II attack drone was shot down in Iran
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has officially announced the destruction of a Chinese-made Wing Loong II unmanned aerial vehicle in the airspace near the city of Shiraz.
Defence Express reports this.
The appearance of such equipment deep within the country’s rear may indicate the involvement of a new state in a series of airstrikes on Iranian territory.
Experts note that the downing of the drone specifically in the Shiraz area is no coincidence, as critically important military-industrial facilities are concentrated there.
Ballistic missile production facilities are located near the city, as well as a classified underground complex known as the “missile city.”
Analysts at Defence Express emphasize that the use of a Chinese drone rules out direct involvement by the U.S. or Israel, as these countries do not have Chinese-made equipment in their arsenals.
This significantly broadens the circle of likely participants in the conflict, pointing to regional players in the Middle East.
Among the countries in the region, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia possess Wing Loong-series drones.
However, experts consider Riyadh’s involvement unlikely due to its traditionally restrained stance, despite constant provocations and attacks by pro-Iranian groups.
The UAE is considered the most likely owner of the downed drone, as it has previously openly declared its right to retaliate following Iranian attacks on its infrastructure.
The location where the drone was shot down suggests that it was on a reconnaissance mission or was actively searching for targets to strike.
The Wing Loong II’s capabilities make it a dangerous tool of modern warfare, as it is a direct counterpart to the American MQ-9 Reaper.
The drone has a takeoff weight of about 4.2 tons and is capable of carrying up to 430 kilograms of high-precision guided munitions on board.
As a reminder, Iran has proposed a deal to Europe regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which could lead to a change in the global financial system.
We also reported that Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz.
