Breaking news out of the Middle East where we’re seeing reports that a surface-to-air missile fired by Iran’s Republican Guard has shot down a U.S. drone that was allegedly flying in international airspace at the time:
#IRGC says downing of US drone sends “clear message to America.”
US says the drone was shot down by an Iranian missile in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) June 20, 2019
BREAKING: U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton high-altitude drone shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missile this evening over Strait of Hormuz in international airspace: U.S. official
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 20, 2019
U.S. Navy high-altitude drone shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missile 17 miles from Iran in international airspace over Strait of Hormuz. Race now on to find wreckage in water before Iranian forces. Iran also tried to shoot down another drone, but missed: U.S. officials
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 20, 2019
This has been confirmed by U.S. sources according to ABC News:
JUST IN: Iran shoots down American drone in international airspace, U.S. official confirms. https://t.co/sK8KiayaYB
— ABC News (@ABC) June 20, 2019
Iran claims the drone was over its airspace, however:
Iran says it downed a U.S. drone over its own airspace — the United States insists it happened in international airspace.
Listen: https://t.co/Dw0cHZqOf8— CBS News Radio (@CBSNewsRadio) June 20, 2019
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According to the Jerusalem Post’s Seth Frantzman, the drone that was shot down was an MQ-4C Triton:
Question about the downing the US drone, this was allegedly an MQ-4C Triton (or a Global Hawk, both are made by Northrop Grumman which it was modeled after): an MQ-9 Reaper was shot down over Yemen on June 6. And Iranians tried to down a Reaper on June 13 with a modified SA-7
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) June 20, 2019
This does raise some questions:
Now knowing all that the US flew a drone near Iran apparently over international waters but they should have known the capabilities Iran had. This was the third incident with US drones in weeks.
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) June 20, 2019
It appears embarrassing for Washington and many will be watching to see what happens and also wonder about the technology involved.
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) June 20, 2019
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