A UK Socialist's blog

Iran says it downed US-made MQ-9 drone over southern Hormozgan province

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone flies a training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range, in Nevada, United States. [USAF – William Rio Rosado – Anadolu Agency]

Iran said Friday that its forces had intercepted and destroyed an US-made MQ-9 drone over the southern province of Hormozgan.

“An MQ-9 drone was intercepted and shot down over Iran’s Hormuzgan Province by the IRGC’s new advanced air defense system,” state broadcaster Press TV reported.

Citing three officials, The Washington Post reported Thursday that the US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, or roughly 25% of its fleet, during its war with Iran.

The losses involve an aircraft used for surveillance and targeted strikes that can cost between $30 million and $50 million depending on its equipment, according to the report.

The newspaper said the potential cost of the lost Reapers exceeds $1.3 billion.

READ: US says lower oil prices now top priority over Iran nuclear issue

The drones have been heavily used around the Strait of Hormuz but are “relatively easy targets” for Iran and its proxies because they fly slowly and often at low altitudes, it said.

Hormozgan province overlooks the Strait of Hormuz and includes the port city of Bandar Abbas.

The US and Iran agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and later signed a deal on June 17, launching negotiations toward a final agreement. But the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic routes for global energy supplies and trade.

On July 8-24, the US and Iran exchanged more military strikes, with Washington launching attacks on targets inside Iran. Tehran responded by striking what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

READ: US CENTCOM chief pushing for renewed strikes on Iran, claims Israeli media

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIran says it downed US-made MQ-9 drone over southern Hormozgan province

3 Palestinian fishermen injured by Israeli naval fire off Gaza City despite ceasefire

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Palestinian fishermen in the az-Zawayda area of Gaza cast their nets along the shore to sustain their livelihoods despite fishing equipment damaged in attacks, as they continue working under the threat of frequent Israeli military strikes in Deir Al Balah, Palestine on March 31, 2026. [Hassan Jedi – Anadolu Agency]

Three Palestinian fishermen were injured Friday when Israeli naval vessels opened fire on them while they were working off the coast of Gaza City, a local union official said, Anadolu reports.

The attack was the latest Israeli violation of a ceasefire agreement in effect in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 10, 2025.

The violations have killed 1,260 Palestinians and injured 4,154 others, according to Palestinian figures.

Zakaria Bakr, coordinator of the Fishermen’s Committees Union in Gaza, said in a Facebook post that Israeli naval vessels fired machine guns at a fishing boat, injuring three fishermen.

Bakr said the incident came amid continuing attacks against Gaza’s fishermen that endanger their lives and deprive them of their livelihoods.

READ: MSF warns restrictions on engine oil and spare parts entering Gaza threaten vital services

Gaza’s fishermen have faced Israeli restrictions on access to the sea since the start of Israel’s war in October 2023.

A UN report on July 2 said the Israeli navy continued to prevent Gaza residents from accessing the sea despite the ceasefire.

The fishing industry has suffered extensive damage, including to Gaza’s port, boats and equipment.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has said recovery of the sector requires safe access to the sea.

The Israeli onslaught has killed 73,389 Palestinians and injured 174,266 others since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have continued across Gaza, causing further casualties and damage to homes.

READ: Trump adviser, Board of Peace envoy to visit Israel for talks on US Gaza plan: Report

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue Reading3 Palestinian fishermen injured by Israeli naval fire off Gaza City despite ceasefire

Protest held over Israeli cruise ship’s arrival at Greek port

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

People held a protest at the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, on Friday, against the arrival of the Crown Iris cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists.

People held a protest at the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, on Friday, against the arrival of the Crown Iris cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists, Anadolu reports.

The arrival of an Israeli cruise ship at a port near Athens in June was also met with protests by pro-Palestinian activists.

Last summer, visits by the same ship, the Crown Iris, to several Greek ports, including Syros, Rhodes, Agios Nikolaos in Crete and Volos, were similarly met with protests.

Since Oct. 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza, backed by the US, has killed around 73,000 Palestinians and injured more than 174,000, most of them women and children. The offensive has also damaged or destroyed nearly 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure.

READ: Pro-Palestinian protesters march through Berlin

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingProtest held over Israeli cruise ship’s arrival at Greek port

Standards watchdog resumes investigation into Nigel Farage over financial gifts

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/14/standards-watchdog-investigation-nigel-farage-financial-gifts

If Farage is found to have broken parliamentary rules Clacton could face another byelection. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Reform UK leader’s return to Clacton restarts inquiry into £5m gift from cyrpto-billionaire and support from fraudster

The suspended parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage over accusations he failed to declare gifts and donations has resumed after the Reform UK leader’s re-election as the MP for Clacton.

The twofold investigation by Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, was paused after Farage resigned from his seat and called a byelection in protest at what he said was unfair scrutiny of his finances.

Now the investigation had restarted, according to the commissioner’s website, which said previously that the process had been suspended from 8 July, when the MP resigned.

…

If Farage is found to have broken parliamentary rules and is suspended from the Commons for at least 10 sitting days he could face a recall petition, where a byelection is called if at least 10% of local voters demand it.

According to one report, Farage called his own byelection after his team advised that leaving parliament would end the investigation. In fact it only pauses such processes, which resume if the person is re-elected.

…

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/14/standards-watchdog-investigation-nigel-farage-financial-gifts

Nigel Farage is scathing at the £250,000 cost to the taxpayer of his unnecessary and ridiculous Clacton-on-Sea election campaign that he caused to avoid scrutiny and acccountability for the £5MILLION 'gift' that he didn't declare.
Nigel Farage is scathing at the £250,000 cost to the taxpayer of his unnecessary and ridiculous Clacton-on-Sea election campaign that he caused to avoid scrutiny and acccountability for the £5MILLION ‘gift’ that he didn’t declare.
Nigel Farage explains that he's called another byelection in Clacton-on-Sea because he should be able to secretly enrich himself without scrutiny and accountabilty and that the rules shouldn't apply to him.
Nigel Farage explains that he’s called another byelection in Clacton-on-Sea because he should be able to secretly enrich himself without scrutiny and accountabilty and that the rules shouldn’t apply to him.
Nigel Farage admits to being a whore willing to do anything for someone with a big fat wallet and asks whether drinking pints and smoking fags is not enough for the stupid plebs.
Nigel Farage admits to being a whore willing to do anything for someone with a big fat wallet and asks whether drinking pints and smoking fags is not enough for the stupid plebs.
Continue ReadingStandards watchdog resumes investigation into Nigel Farage over financial gifts

“Bring it on!” says Count Binface in his victory speech

I came first in the Clacton by-election! Of the candidates who bothered to turn up for the results. Here is my victory speech!

“A new dawn has broken … ” Nice one

Nigel Farage is scathing at the £250,000 cost to the taxpayer of his unnecessary and ridiculous Clacton-on-Sea election campaign that he caused to avoid scrutiny and acccountability for the £5MILLION 'gift' that he didn't declare.
Nigel Farage is scathing at the £250,000 cost to the taxpayer of his unnecessary and ridiculous Clacton-on-Sea election campaign that he caused to avoid scrutiny and acccountability for the £5MILLION ‘gift’ that he didn’t declare.
Nigel Farage explains that he's called another byelection in Clacton-on-Sea because he should be able to secretly enrich himself without scrutiny and accountabilty and that the rules shouldn't apply to him.
Nigel Farage explains that he’s called another byelection in Clacton-on-Sea because he should be able to secretly enrich himself without scrutiny and accountabilty and that the rules shouldn’t apply to him.
Continue Reading“Bring it on!” says Count Binface in his victory speech