The Pentagon confirmed late Tuesday that it lost an unarmed drone over northwest Syria.
“We can confirm that at approximately 1:40 p.m. EDT today, U.S. military controllers lost contact with an U.S. MQ-1 Predator unarmed remotely piloted aircraft operating over northwest Syria,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “At this time, we have no information to corroborate press reports that the aircraft was shot down. We are looking into the incident and will provide more details when available.”
Social media sites posted photos and videos of wreckage believed to be the drone late Tuesday.
The U.S. has conducted nearly daily airstrikes over Syria since last fall, when it launched Operation Inherent Resolve to target Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters. On Tuesday, the U.S. and coalition air forces conducted seven airstrikes in Syria and 12 in Iraq.
Airstrikes in Syria Tuesday
• Near Hasakah, two airstrikes struck two Islamic State tactical units and destroyed two vehicles.
• Near Kobani, five airstrikes struck an Islamic State large tactical unit and four tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions.
Airstrikes in Iraq Tuesday
• Near Qaim, an airstrike destroyed an Islamic State checkpoint.
• Near Fallujah, five airstrikes struck two Islamic State tactical units, a weapons storage facility, two crossing points and destroyed two different crossing points.
• Near Hīt in Anbar province, an airstrike had inconclusive results.
• Near Kirkuk, two airstrikes struck an Islamic State large tactical unit and a tactical unit and destroyed eight vehicles, three Islamic State buildings and a heavy machine gun.
• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an Islamic State staging area.
• Near Ramadi, an airstrike struck an Islamic State tactical unit.
