SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Pentagon: Iran Fighter Jets Fired at US Drone
Nov 08, 2012
The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that two Iranian fighter planes fired on, but did not hit, an unarmed US drone late last week.
The incident was first reported by CNN, and Pentagon spokesman George Little confirmed the incident on Thursday.
Reuters adds:
President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta were both advised early on about the incident, which occurred at about 4:50 a.m. ET on November 1. Iran was later warned that the United States would continue to conduct such surveillance flights in the region and that the military would protect its assets.
Little said the drone aircraft was conducting "routine surveillance" and was about 16 miles off the Iranian coast when an Iranian SU-25 warplane intercepted it and opened fire. He said this was first time a US drone had been shot at in international airspace over the Gulf.
That last claim may or may not be true, but this is not the first time that Iran has confronted US spy drones near or within its airspace.
In late 2011, Iran's military shot down a US reconnaissance drone aircraft in eastern Iran and later sent a complaint to the United Nations for the incursion.
"Provocative and secret actions by the American government against the Islamic republic would not be tolerated" Iranian officials said in the complaint.
The Iranians made specific warnings against any "repetition of such actions."
At the time, the US government claimed the drone crashed and was not shot down. They did, however, request the pilotless drone be returned.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that two Iranian fighter planes fired on, but did not hit, an unarmed US drone late last week.
The incident was first reported by CNN, and Pentagon spokesman George Little confirmed the incident on Thursday.
Reuters adds:
President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta were both advised early on about the incident, which occurred at about 4:50 a.m. ET on November 1. Iran was later warned that the United States would continue to conduct such surveillance flights in the region and that the military would protect its assets.
Little said the drone aircraft was conducting "routine surveillance" and was about 16 miles off the Iranian coast when an Iranian SU-25 warplane intercepted it and opened fire. He said this was first time a US drone had been shot at in international airspace over the Gulf.
That last claim may or may not be true, but this is not the first time that Iran has confronted US spy drones near or within its airspace.
In late 2011, Iran's military shot down a US reconnaissance drone aircraft in eastern Iran and later sent a complaint to the United Nations for the incursion.
"Provocative and secret actions by the American government against the Islamic republic would not be tolerated" Iranian officials said in the complaint.
The Iranians made specific warnings against any "repetition of such actions."
At the time, the US government claimed the drone crashed and was not shot down. They did, however, request the pilotless drone be returned.
The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that two Iranian fighter planes fired on, but did not hit, an unarmed US drone late last week.
The incident was first reported by CNN, and Pentagon spokesman George Little confirmed the incident on Thursday.
Reuters adds:
President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta were both advised early on about the incident, which occurred at about 4:50 a.m. ET on November 1. Iran was later warned that the United States would continue to conduct such surveillance flights in the region and that the military would protect its assets.
Little said the drone aircraft was conducting "routine surveillance" and was about 16 miles off the Iranian coast when an Iranian SU-25 warplane intercepted it and opened fire. He said this was first time a US drone had been shot at in international airspace over the Gulf.
That last claim may or may not be true, but this is not the first time that Iran has confronted US spy drones near or within its airspace.
In late 2011, Iran's military shot down a US reconnaissance drone aircraft in eastern Iran and later sent a complaint to the United Nations for the incursion.
"Provocative and secret actions by the American government against the Islamic republic would not be tolerated" Iranian officials said in the complaint.
The Iranians made specific warnings against any "repetition of such actions."
At the time, the US government claimed the drone crashed and was not shot down. They did, however, request the pilotless drone be returned.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.