By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Iran reported downing US drones over Qeshm Island as tanker incidents near the Strait of Hormuz drove oil prices higher.

Key Takeaways

• Iran’s Press TV reported that air defenses downed two US MQ-9 Reaper drones over Qeshm Island, while the Iranian Army announced one downing.
• The IRGC said it downed a US MQ-1 drone over the island on Friday, bringing its reported tally for that model to 16.
• Brent crude rebounded to $100.75 a barrel on Friday as a series of tanker incidents near the Strait of Hormuz renewed concerns about oil supplies.

Iran Reports US Reaper Drones Downed over Qeshm

Iranian air defenses shot down two US MQ-9 Reaper drones over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Mayadeen Arabic reported, citing Iran’s Press TV.

Al Mayadeen’s English edition, citing the Iranian Army, reported one MQ-9 downing over the island and said the Army put the cumulative tally for that model at more than 56.

Earlier, Iran’s IRNA news agency quoted eyewitnesses as saying that “two projectiles struck the Suza area on Qeshm Island,” according to Al Mayadeen.

IRGC Reports Six US MQM-170 Drones Captured after Latest Interceptions

IRGC Reports Downing MQ-1 and Seizing US Drones

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Friday that its air defenses had downed a US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm, bringing the number of drones of that model it says it has downed to 16.

The IRGC said it was monitoring US military movements and drone flight patterns, claiming that “the repeated failures of Admiral Brad Cooper’s command continue,” Al Mayadeen reported.

The Guard had also reported using electronic warfare to take control of a US MQM-170 drone and bring it down over Qeshm. In a separate announcement, the IRGC said its naval electronic warfare unit took control of two US LUCAS drones and brought them down intact.

Brent Tops $100 as Tanker Incidents Raise Supply Concerns

Brent crude climbed to $100.75 a barrel on Friday, up 2.5% from Thursday’s settlement, as fresh tanker incidents near the Strait of Hormuz renewed concerns about supply, Al Mayadeen reported.

At least five vessels had reported incidents since Sunday, the outlet said, citing UK Maritime Trade Operations. The IRGC said two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire early Thursday after the tankers attempted to use routes Iran had not authorized.

Iran's Navy says a tanker hit a sea mine and was disabled by fire east of the Strait of Hormuz after entering a restricted area with its navigation systems off, despite repeated warnings.

The office warned that any vessel ignoring such warnings faces the same fate. pic.twitter.com/IbSNCocRlq

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) November 7, 2026

The rebound followed a sharp selloff on Wednesday, when Brent fell 8.7% to $94.62 and US West Texas Intermediate fell 8.3% to $88.12. Al Mayadeen reported that traders saw the Democrats’ congressional victories as increasing pressure on US President Donald Trump to end the war on Iran.

“Traders viewed Wednesday’s selloff as overdone,” ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes said, according to Al Mayadeen. Despite Friday’s rebound, Brent remained well below the $118 it had reached a week earlier.

(PC, Al Mayadeen, Iranian media)