( CNN ) The Syrian military claims to have shot down a U.S. drone , state media reported Tuesday . `` Syrian Air Defense systems shot down a U.S. UAV ( unmanned aerial vehicle ) north of Latakia Province , '' the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said . The U.S. military lost contact with a MQ-1 Predator drone over Syria , a U.S. official said Tuesday . Claims that the drone was shot down by Syrian forces are still being investigated , the official said . The drone was believed to be conducting a reconnaissance mission near the Port of Latakia . The United States has used drones for surveillance and targeted killings , allowing missions to be carried out without risking the lives of U.S. military personnel . But it 's not alone . More than 70 countries now have some type of drone , according to The New America Foundation . CNN Explains : U.S. drones . CNN 's Barbara Starr contributed to this report .
An official says the U.S. military lost contact with a drone over Syria . Syria 's military claims it shot down a U.S. drone north of Latakia Province .