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Iran says it's 'completely ready for war' after US official confirms it shot down American drone
In a major provocation, Iran shot down an unarmed and unmanned U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone while it was flying in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, a U.S. official told ABC News.
The incident is sure to trigger serious discussions within the Trump administration about how to respond to a direct attack on a U.S. military asset that goes beyond recent attacks in the Middle East that the U.S. has blamed on Iran.
Gulf crisis: US confirms drone was shot down by Iranian missile
A US military surveillance drone has been shot down by Iranian forces while flying over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the drone had violated Iranian airspace. But US military said it had been over international waters. IRGC commander-in-chief Maj-Gen Hossein Salami said the downing of the drone sent a "clear message to America" that Iran's borders were its "red line".
It comes at a time of escalating tension between the US and Iran. On Monday, the US defence department said it was deploying 1,000 extra troops to the region in response to "hostile behaviour" by Iranian forces. The US has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers with mines last Thursday just outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. Iran rejects the allegation.
Previously: Two Oil Tankers Attacked, US Blames Iran
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @02:44PM (5 children)
"In a major provocation, Iran shot down an unarmed and unmanned U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone while it was flying in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz"
Bastards! They shoot that international symbol of peace that brings happiness and comfort to everyone!
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @04:16PM (2 children)
When asked, the President said "I mean, it could be Iran, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK?"
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @04:55PM (1 child)
Actually he said, "It could have been someone who is lose and stupid."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @05:27PM
That should be "... loose and stupid."
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday June 21 2019, @05:26AM (1 child)
It's actually not a bad idea of the Iranians, letting the US know that they can't fly their military aircraft into Iranian airsp... sorry, uh, "international airspace very close to Iran" with impunity.
In any case since the US in the past shot down an Iranian civilian airliner killing 290 people including 60 children, I think Iran is allowed to shoot down as many unmanned drones killing zero people including zero children as it likes.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday June 21 2019, @05:29AM
Damn, that's too non-obvious. I meant it can shoot down as many unmanned drones as it likes until its total for casualties matches what the US did. Currently it's zero dead, but there are plenty more unmanned drones the US will try to provoke them with.