Middle East News
US says it shot down Iranian drone over Iraq
Mar 16, 2009, 17:16 GMT
Washington - An Iranian drone that wandered deep into Iraqi airspace last month was shot down by American warplanes, a US military spokesman in Baghdad confirmed Monday.
The US jet fighters downed the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle on February 25 about 100 kilometres northeast of Baghdad, after tracking it for more than one hour and determining it was not a coalition aircraft, the spokesman said.
'This was not an accident on the part of the Iranians,' the spokesman said. 'The UAV was in Iraqi airspace for nearly one hour and 10 minutes and well inside Iraqi territory before it was engaged.'
The US pilots were ordered to attack the drone after concluding it would not result in collateral damage, the spokesman said. The military identified the drone as an Iranian-built Ababil 3 model.
US officials for years have accused Iran of mingling in Iraq, mainly by providing weapons to Shiite militants - charges Tehran denies.

COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Middle East
- 1. Jerusalem prelate tells Arab Spring youth to have confidence
- 2. More than 100 killed in Syria ahead of ceasefire deadline
- 3. At least 43 killed in Syria, despite UN criticism
- 4. 19 killed in Syria as ceasefire deadline approaches
- 5. Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem for Easter, Passover
Older Talkback
page: 1
Ya see! I told you!!!
Bush has just been waiting to invade Iran and now he will use that as a pretext.
Its another bay of pigs I tell ya!
Its, its - its the gulf of tonkin all over again.
God damn him and his evil cabal bent on world domination and oppression of the underappreciated yet thoughtful and sensitive liberal intellectuals and their disciples.
Iran claims not to be aware of one of its drones being shot down. Perhaps, they are not aware of their plans to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth.
page: 1

SP4: tellingMar 16th, 2009 - 18:46:38
...very telling...
Report this comment