Chinese drone downed in Iran, sparking questions about UAE or Saudi Arabian role
Iran appears to have shot down a Chinese Wing Loong II drone in the southern region of Shiraz, sparking questions among open-source intelligence analysts about whether Gulf states like Saudi Arabia or the UAE had joined offensive operations against Iran.
Images of the destroyed drone were originally shared by Iran's Tasnim news agency, which said the Iranian military had downed an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.
However, multiple open-source intelligence analysts identified the drone as a Chinese Wing Loong II, which is often compared to the MQ-9 Reaper. Middle East Eye could not independently confirm the analysis, but Tehran Times later reported it.
MEE revealed in February that Iran had received drones from China in the days before the US-Israeli attack on 28 February.
But a regional intelligence official said Beijing had sent Kamikaze drones to the Islamic Republic, which are different from reusable Wing Loong drones.
Read more: Chinese drone downed in Iran, sparking questions about UAE or Saudi Arabian role