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Iranian fighter jets fired on US drone, Pentagon confirms | Iranian fighter jets fired on US drone, Pentagon confirms |
(30 days later) | |
Iranian fighter jets fired on a US drone over the Persian Gulf last week, missing the unmanned aircraft, the Pentagon has said. | Iranian fighter jets fired on a US drone over the Persian Gulf last week, missing the unmanned aircraft, the Pentagon has said. |
The Predator drone, which was reportedly unarmed, photographed the 1 November incident with still and video cameras, Pentagon officials told CNN, which first reported the attack. | The Predator drone, which was reportedly unarmed, photographed the 1 November incident with still and video cameras, Pentagon officials told CNN, which first reported the attack. |
The Washington Post said the drone was very close to the Iranian coast when it was shot at. | The Washington Post said the drone was very close to the Iranian coast when it was shot at. |
Reza Marashi, director of the National Iranian American Council, said the incident was part of a "dangerous cycle of mutual escalation". | Reza Marashi, director of the National Iranian American Council, said the incident was part of a "dangerous cycle of mutual escalation". |
President Barack Obama was informed of the incident early last Thursday, as he returned to the campaign trail after surveying damage from Hurricane Sandy. | President Barack Obama was informed of the incident early last Thursday, as he returned to the campaign trail after surveying damage from Hurricane Sandy. |
Pentagon spokesman George Little confirmed the incident on Thursday. He said it took place at about 4.50 am ET on 1 November. 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. | Pentagon spokesman George Little confirmed the incident on Thursday. He said it took place at about 4.50 am ET on 1 November. 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. |
Asked by CNN whether the jets deliberately missed, an unnamed US government official said: "It doesn't matter. They fired on us." | Asked by CNN whether the jets deliberately missed, an unnamed US government official said: "It doesn't matter. They fired on us." |
Marashi said tensions between Iran and the US were growing. "Iran [is] fighting back and trying to calibrate [the US] response so it doesn't serve as casus belli," he wrote on Twitter. | Marashi said tensions between Iran and the US were growing. "Iran [is] fighting back and trying to calibrate [the US] response so it doesn't serve as casus belli," he wrote on Twitter. |
The United States has been building up its military presence in the Persian Gulf, doubling the number of minesweepers patrolling the Straight of Hormuz to eight vessels, the New York Times reported in July. | The United States has been building up its military presence in the Persian Gulf, doubling the number of minesweepers patrolling the Straight of Hormuz to eight vessels, the New York Times reported in July. |
The US organized the largest war games ever in the Gulf in the end of September. Britain reportedly sent at least six vessels to participate. The exercises were characterized as an unprecedented peacetime show of force in the region. Iran conducted war exercises in the Gulf in January. | The US organized the largest war games ever in the Gulf in the end of September. Britain reportedly sent at least six vessels to participate. The exercises were characterized as an unprecedented peacetime show of force in the region. Iran conducted war exercises in the Gulf in January. |
In an interactive inventory of US drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, the Washington Post plots 379 strikes since 2002, including one in Yemen on 28 October that killed at least three people. | In an interactive inventory of US drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, the Washington Post plots 379 strikes since 2002, including one in Yemen on 28 October that killed at least three people. |
The Obama administration is likely to further entrench and possibly expand its policy of robot warfare in its second term, Wired's Spencer Ackerman has reported. | The Obama administration is likely to further entrench and possibly expand its policy of robot warfare in its second term, Wired's Spencer Ackerman has reported. |
According to reports, the president may have authorized a lethal strike in Yemen on the day of the US presidential elections. | According to reports, the president may have authorized a lethal strike in Yemen on the day of the US presidential elections. |
• Additional reporting from Reuters | • Additional reporting from Reuters |
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