American military drone shot down in international airspace by Iranian missile: US Official
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The shootdown of the RQ-4 Global Hawk comes after the US military previously alleged Iran fired a missile at another drone last week that responded to the attack on two oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman.
A US official says that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard have shot down a US drone amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over the collapsing nuclear deal.
In a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the US surveillance drone was brought down by its Air Force near the Kouh-e Mobarak region — which sits in the central district of Jask County — after the aircraft violated Iranian airspace.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is Iran's premier military force.
The reported shootdown of the RQ-4 Global Hawk comes after the US military previously alleged Iran fired a missile at another drone last week that responded to the attack on two oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman, Iran Radio reported.
Earlier, the United States Armed Forces spokesman had declined to comment when asked if a US spy drone was shot down.
The US has accused Iran of being behind a series of operations against oil tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters.
Tehran has denied involvement and instead suggested Washington could be the author of the attacks, using the operation to justify force against Iran.
Hormozgan borders the Strait of Hormuz, where the tanker attacks took place.