how many reaper drones has the us lost in iran

The best publicly reported estimate is that the U.S. has lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones in operations tied to Iran, according to multiple reports citing U.S. military and congressional sources.

What the reports say

• A congressional report cited by coverage in May 2026 put the number at 24 Reapers lost.

• Other reporting around the same time said the total may have been more than two dozen and possibly up to 30.

• Later June 2026 coverage described losses in the Middle East as even higher overall, but those figures were broader than Iran alone.

Best single answer

If you want the shortest answer: about two dozen, with 24 being the most concrete figure publicly reported.

Why the number varies

Different outlets appear to be counting slightly different things:

• confirmed combat losses,
• losses from missile strikes on the ground,
• aircraft damaged versus destroyed,
• and broader Middle East losses rather than Iran-only losses.

Context

The Reaper is expensive and difficult to replace, so even a loss in the 20s is significant for the U.S. fleet.

TL;DR: publicly reported figure is 24 lost Reaper drones , with some reports suggesting the true total may be a bit higher.