Iran Claims New Drone Destroyed US Base in Iraq
A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Akraminia, has claimed that almost all US military infrastructure at a base in Erbil, Iraq, has been destroyed by a new type of advanced Iranian drone. Speaking to state television, Akraminia stated that the new drone possesses greater accuracy than the previous Arash-2 model and has been central to retaliatory strikes. He added that Iran has inflicted severe damage on US military bases in the region, claiming many have lost a significant portion of their operational capability. The spokesman asserted that Iran is prepared to continue military operations until the United States realises it cannot impose its will on the Iranian nation through aggression.
A separate IRGC statement detailed the destruction of US aircraft on the ground, including 17 reconnaissance and operational drones, an F-15 fighter jet inside a hangar, a P-8 aircraft, a C-17 transport plane, and eight refuelling aircraft. The claims follow a 13-day US bombing campaign against Iran, which reportedly ceased overnight. The US strikes, which violated a ceasefire, resulted in the deaths of at least 55 Iranian citizens.
Amidst the escalating conflict, the Pentagon has quietly revised its official death toll of American service members. The Department of Defense website initially listed 18 US military personnel killed during the war, but the figure was subsequently reduced to 14, with deaths classified as ‘killed in action’ dropping from 11 to 7. Three US military officials told the New York Times that the change reflects a decision to exclude four service members who died over a previous weekend, three in Jordan and one in northern Iraq, because their deaths occurred after President Trump announced a ceasefire in April, despite ongoing hostilities. Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez attributed the discrepancy to a ‘temporary data disruption’ and a ‘website anomaly’, stating the department is committed to accurate reporting. However, President Trump himself continued to cite the original figure of 18 deaths, stating that while even one death is too many, ‘the number is 18’, adding to the confusion over the official tally.