Iran shoots down fourth US MQ-9 drone in eight days

Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan province. This marks the fourth American MQ-9 downed by Iran in the last eight days, @AJEnglish reported. Iranian authorities said they have downed more than 150 US drones since the start of the war, about 30 of them MQ-9s.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran denounced a US strike on the under-construction Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant. The agency called the action a violation of international law and described the facility as a symbol of national dignity and scientific self-reliance.

A power and water distillation plant in Kuwait came under attack for the second time in two days, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said.

The strike caused a fire in some facilities and affected a large number of electricity generation units. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Last week the United States bombed a water facility in southern Iran, leaving 10,000 people without drinking water.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Doha. The leaders discussed bilateral relations and the US-Iran escalation. They stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy, adherence to a memorandum of understanding, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Nabil Fahmy, secretary-general of the Arab League, condemned Iranian attacks on Arab countries. He called on the United States and Iran to de-escalate, uphold their memorandum of understanding, respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and return to negotiations.

Paul Musgrave of Georgetown University Qatar said the United States is unlikely to launch a ground campaign in Iran because of casualty aversion.