Iran demands explanations from Saudis and UAE after Chinese-made drone was shot down

Iran says a Wing Long II drone has been shot down over its territory.

Photo: Dickson Lee Iran has demanded explanations from two Gulf states equipped with Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones after one was reportedly shot down in the war with the United States and Israel.

Both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are known to have the reconnaissance and precision strike drones in their arsenals.

The drone was shot down over the city of Shiraz on Thursday, according to Esmail Baqaei, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry.

Baqaei posted photos of drone wreckage on social media, saying it could be “evidence of direct participation and active complicity” by some neighbouring countries “in the crime of aggression and war crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iran”.

He added: “[Clarification] is needed by either of the TWO STATES of the region that are the users of this drone!” The drone was shot down over the city of Shiraz on Thursday, according to Esmail Baqaei, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry.

Photo: X/IRIMFA_SPOX Images of the destroyed aircraft were initially circulated by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which claimed it was an American MQ-9 Reaper.

The debris was later identified as a Wing Loong II, which is of a similar size and appearance.

Neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia has officially joined Operation Epic Fury to attack Iran, despite hosting US bases, facing intense pressure from the White House to support the operation and coming under attack from Iran.

Direct operational involvement by either nation, if confirmed, would signal a significant escalation.

The Wing Loong II, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, is one of China’s most commercially successful military drone exports.

It can carry a range of missiles, guided bombs and rockets with a total payload of 480kg (1,060lbs) and cover a range of 1,500km (930 miles).

It is considered a viable alternative to advanced US drones such as the Reaper, especially for countries that do not want the political strings attached to the American weapon.

The estimated price of Wing Loong II is US$4-6 million, in contrast to the US$30 million or more price tag for the Reaper.

CBS News reported on Wednesday that the US military had lost 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the strikes on Iran began.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both been accused of providing Wing Loong II drones in Sudan and Yemen respectively; with the Iranian-backed Houthis claiming to have shot th

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