Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Persian Gulf on Monday, marking the latest flashpoint in a military confrontation that has been escalating throughout 2026. The incident reportedly occurred over Jam County after the drone entered what Iran considers its airspace.
The IRGC didn’t stop at one claim. It also said it fired on an RQ-4 intelligence drone and an F-35 fighter jet, forcing both to retreat from the area.
Here’s why crypto investors should care: Bitcoin dropped below $73,000 in the aftermath, and close to $1 billion in liquidations swept across cryptocurrency exchanges. War drums have a way of rattling leveraged positions.
What happened and what it echoes
The MQ-9 Reaper is the workhorse of US drone operations. It’s a $32 million unmanned aircraft that can loiter at high altitude for hours, carrying both surveillance equipment and weapons.
