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Iran says it has shot down US drone as missile strike in Saudi Arabia raises tensions Iran shoots down US drone as missile strike in Saudi Arabia raises tensions
(about 2 hours later)
US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the details of a missile strike in Saudi Arabia that appeared to come from Yemen, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has said, as Iran claimed in a separate incident to have shot down a US drone over its territory. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have shot down what it called a US “spy” drone, claiming it was in the country’s airspace.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and continuing to consult with our partners and allies,” Sanders said on Wednesday, in relation to the Saudi missile strike. The US military confirmed one of its drones has been taken down, but said it was in international airspace. An unnamed US official told the Reuters news agency the drone was a US Navy MQ-4C Triton.
Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, who ousted the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government in late 2014, have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities in the past two weeks. The dispute came as US president Donald Trump was briefed on the details of a separate incident: a missile strike in Saudi Arabia that appeared to come from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency claimed the country’s Revolutionary Guard shot down a US drone when it entered Iranian airspace near the Kouhmobarak district in the southern Hormozgan province. It said the drone was RQ-4 Global Hawk.
The US military denied any US aircraft were operating in Iranian airspace at the time of the claimed attack. Captain Bill Urban, a US Central Command spokesman, declined to comment when asked if an American drone was shot down but said “there was no drone over Iranian territory.”
Last week the US military alleged Iran fired a missile at another drone that responded to the oil tanker attacks near the Gulf of Oman.
Earlier, Houthis said they had attacked a power station in the Saudi province of Jizan, with a cruise missile, according to the group’s Al Masirah TV.
There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities.
Tensions in the Gulf have been heightened since 13 June, when the US accused Iran of attacking two tankers in the the Gulf of Oman with mines. The US military released footage it said showed the Iranian military removing an unexploded mine from the side of one of the tankers.Tensions in the Gulf have been heightened since 13 June, when the US accused Iran of attacking two tankers in the the Gulf of Oman with mines. The US military released footage it said showed the Iranian military removing an unexploded mine from the side of one of the tankers.
Saudi Arabia, Iran’s arch rival, blamed Tehran for the attack. On 16 June Mohammed bin Salman vowed Saudi Arabia “won’t hesitate to deal with any threat” to the kingdom’s interests. Iran has denied any involvement. State news agency IRNA said the downed drone was an RQ-4 Global Hawk. “It was shot down when it entered Iran’s airspace near the Kouhmobarak district in the south,” the Guards’ website added.
However, Captain Bill Urban, a US Central Command spokesman, said “there was no drone over Iranian territory”.
A senior Iranian security official said on Wednesday Iran would “strongly respond” to any violation of its airspace. “Our airspace is our red line and Iran has always responded and will continue to respond strongly to any country that violates our airspace,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security council as saying.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday, in relation to the Saudi missile strike: “We are closely monitoring the situation and continuing to consult with our partners and allies.”
Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, who ousted the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government in late 2014, have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities in the past two weeks.
Saudi crown prince tells Iran: 'We won't hesitate to deal with any threat'
Last week the US military accused Iran of firing a missile at another drone that responded to the oil tanker attacks near the Gulf of Oman.
Iran has shot down a US drone in the southern Hormozgan province, Fars news agency reports https://t.co/Tuf1AaJGtW @Khaaasteh pic.twitter.com/KeEb5fP40YIran has shot down a US drone in the southern Hormozgan province, Fars news agency reports https://t.co/Tuf1AaJGtW @Khaaasteh pic.twitter.com/KeEb5fP40Y
Saudi Arabia, Iran’s arch rival, has blamed Tehran for last week’s attack on two oil tankers. On 16 June Mohammed bin Salman vowed Saudi Arabia “won’t hesitate to deal with any threat” to the kingdom’s interests. Iran has denied any involvement.
Relations between Iran and the US have deteriorated since last year, when Trump announced the US would withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.Relations between Iran and the US have deteriorated since last year, when Trump announced the US would withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
IranIran
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
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