Iranian jets fires on US drones over international airspace

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Iranian jets attack US military drone, Pentagon officials say

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Two Iranian jets reportedly fired on a U.S. military drone over international waters on November 1st. NBC's Mike Viqueira reports.
By Courtney Kube, NBC News

Two Iranian jets fired on a U.S. military drone, Pentagon officials said Thursday — the first time such an action has been acknowledged by the United States.

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At 4:50 a.m. EDT on Nov. 1, an Iranian SU-25 Frog Foot jet fired on a U.S. MQ-1 Predator drone that was conducting routine surveillance in international waters over the Arabian Gulf, Pentagon spokesman George Little said. The unarmed Predator was approximately 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast when the Iranian jet began firing and was never in Iranian airspace, he said.

But a senior defense official said two Iranian ground-attack jets were involved in the incident. The jets circled the Predator several times, firing 30-millimeter cannons at the unarmed drone.
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"We don't know why," the Iranians were shooting at the drone, the official said, insisting the drone did not cross into Iranian airspace. The drone was "conducting routine maritime surveillance, watching ships," the official said.

The Iranian jets followed the Predator for several miles before turning away. The drone returned safely to base and wasn't hit by the Iranian gunfire.

President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta were notified of the incident early that morning, the Pentagon said. The White House would not comment on the incident, but a senior administration official confirmed to NBC News that Obama was told the day of the incident.

Asked whether the Iranian jet was firing warning shots, Little said the jet "fired to take it down." He would not speculate on whether this constitutes an act of war.

The United States informed the Iranians that the U.S. military will continue surveillance flights over the international waters of the Arabian Gulf. Little said that was communicated by the State Department through Swiss officials.

Asked why the incident is just being revealed now — more than one week after the incident and just two days after the presidential election — Little said that the Pentagon does not talk about classified missions. He said that the information had been leaked to the media so he is acknowledging it.

"There is absolutely no precedent" for an incident like this, he said.

The United States and its allies — concerned about what they believe is Iran’s efforts to develop a nuclear weapons program and potential threat to Israel — have imposed a series of sanctions in an effort to get Tehran to back down.

On Thursday, the State Department announced another set of U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian government officials and departments that it says have blocked the Internet and other media, and otherwise prevented freedom of information and expression among the populace.

NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker contributed to this report.

What are they trying to achieve here?

[Grumman]

What are they trying to achieve here?

I'd think that would be a question for the Iranians. I wouldn't take the Pentagon at their word that the drone was in international airspace when they're simultaneously targeting the other party's government officials and departments with sanctions that have blocked the internet and other media.

[Mr Bean]

I'd think that would be a question for the Iranians. I wouldn't take the Pentagon at their word that the drone was in international airspace when they're simultaneously targeting the other party's government officials and departments with sanctions that have blocked the internet and other media.

More than likely the drone was hugging Iranian/International airspace as tight as computers can manage it. Sixteen miles is within the maritime Contiguous zone and trust me when I say that we would flip out if the Russians had flown within 24 miles of the US coast let alone sixteen. So calling sixteen miles from the coast "international wars" is ignoring everything but the 12 mile limit.

[Sea Skimmer]

Random warning that we exist and aren't purely a pushover asymmetric threat of speed boats and mines from before WW1? If they wanted it shot down it would be a wreck on the bottom of the gulf.

[Tanasinn]

Retards attempt to intimidate disposable unmanned RC airplane.

[bilateralrope]

Maybe Iran was hoping that their attack on the drone would become public and influence the US elections.

[Sea Skimmer]

That wouldn't make much sense, it would make Obama look weaker and increase the odds of Romney winning, and its mighty hard to see Iran wanting Romney more. Its entirely possible in any event that this was not a decision made at the national government level in Iran.

[LaCroix]

You need to reed between lines. "It was 16 miles off coast when the jet began firing."

This probably means, "We were just leaving their airspace after a covert survey when they found us , somehow, and we only barely made it out of their airspace before they got into weapon range. Such bad losers..."

[Sea Skimmer]

A covert survey with an utterly unstealthy propeller driven drone that flies at 30,000ft near one of Iran's major air defense concentrations? How about no.

[Block]

You need to reed between lines. "It was 16 miles off coast when the jet began firing."

This probably means, "We were just leaving their airspace after a covert survey when they found us , somehow, and we only barely made it out of their airspace before they got into weapon range. Such bad losers..."

No, it probably means that Iran is trying to be dicks, as per usual. They do a LOT of unprovoked and counter-productive dickishness just because it's possible and they believe it makes them look stronger.

[Aaron MkII]

You need to reed between lines. "It was 16 miles off coast when the jet began firing."

This probably means, "We were just leaving their airspace after a covert survey when they found us , somehow, and we only barely made it out of their airspace before they got into weapon range. Such bad losers..."

No, it probably means that Iran is trying to be dicks, as per usual. They do a LOT of unprovoked and counter-productive dickishness just because it's possible and they believe it makes them look stronger.

It's probably more for the people of Iran then for us.

[Flagg]

You need to reed between lines. "It was 16 miles off coast when the jet began firing."

This probably means, "We were just leaving their airspace after a covert survey when they found us , somehow, and we only barely made it out of their airspace before they got into weapon range. Such bad losers..."

No, it probably means that Iran is trying to be dicks, as per usual. They do a LOT of unprovoked and counter-productive dickishness just because it's possible and they believe it makes them look stronger.

It's probably more for the people of Iran then for us.

Wait, are you telling me that sometimes a countries actions and words aren't meant for outside consumption? IMPOSSIBLE!

[Block]

You need to reed between lines. "It was 16 miles off coast when the jet began firing."

This probably means, "We were just leaving their airspace after a covert survey when they found us , somehow, and we only barely made it out of their airspace before they got into weapon range. Such bad losers..."

No, it probably means that Iran is trying to be dicks, as per usual. They do a LOT of unprovoked and counter-productive dickishness just because it's possible and they believe it makes them look stronger.

It's probably more for the people of Iran then for us.

Of course it is, problem being that it doesn't do anything positive internally either considering it's just going to help speed up the tightening of sanctions and the internal opposition will point to this as the reason.

[Aaron MkII]

Depends how it's spun, you know that.

[Block]

Depends how it's spun, you know that.

True, but I also think Iran is facing a demographic shift like the US is, where it's becoming a younger country with people who don't buy into the conservative party line as much being more and more dominant, and playing to the hardline base just pushes the middle further away.

[ryacko]

No, it probably means that Iran is trying to be dicks, as per usual. They do a LOT of unprovoked and counter-productive dickishness just because it's possible and they believe it makes them look stronger.

It's probably more for the people of Iran then for us.

Wait, are you telling me that sometimes a countries actions and words aren't meant for outside consumption? IMPOSSIBLE!

I think Iran is attempting to become the leader of the Middle East.
Unfortunately, their allies are either in civil war or are considered to be terrorist organizations.

[madd0ct0r]

Its entirely possible in any event that this was not a decision made at the national government level in Iran.

I'm going with this as an option. shit happens, even to RC drones.