Tension escalate as IRGC shoots down US Spy Drone

[Hezbollahi]

Apparently both forces are now racing to find the wreckage in water..

 

[Rukarl]

US designated IRGC as a terrorist force... So this should be interesting.

 

[aziqbal]

US is calling it a unprovoked attacked

It’s not like the drone was filming Persian Dolphins for a wild life documentary

Did they take Iranian permission to fly drone over Iranian airspace?

If not good on Iran

 

[monitor]

Until Iran present the destroyed Drone or US accept the downing of Drone and what kind of drone was shot down it will be disputable as the claimed Drone is high altitude drone very difficult to track by Iran , though Iran have masted in many air defense system recently . I hope the situation not escalated further in a already volatile region .

 

[Hack-Hook]

Don't exxagerate

But they do .
Each one of them if you include research and development cost about 227 million dollar.

 

[monitor]

US confirm the shot down
The White House is holding a meeting this morning to discuss a response to Iran shooting down a U.S. military drone, a person familiar with the plans says. President Trump is not expected to attend right now. Officials are being tight-lipped about it

Strait of Hormuz: US confirms drone shot down by Iran

• 20 June 2019

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• Gulf tanker attacks

Image copyright EPA
Image caption The US military identified the drone as a US Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk (file photo)
A US military surveillance drone has been shot down by Iranian forces while flying over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the aircraft had violated Iranian airspace, and that the incident sent a "clear message to America".

But the US military insisted the drone had been over international waters at the time, and condemned what it called an "unprovoked attack" by the IRGC.

It comes at a time of escalating tension between the US and Iran.

On Monday, the US defence department said it was deploying 1,000 extra troops to the region in response to "hostile behaviour" by Iranian forces. It has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers.

The US has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers with mines last Thursday just outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. Iran rejects the allegation.

Media captionThe BBC's Mark Lowen gets close access to stricken oil tanker
It was the second time in a month tankers had been attacked close in the region, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes each day.

Tensions were further fuelled on Monday when Iran announced its stockpile of low-enriched uranium would next week exceed limits it agreed with world powers under a landmark nuclear deal in 2015.

• What we know about Gulf tanker attacks
• The Iran nuclear crisis in 300 words
• Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards

Iran stepped up its production in response to tightening economic sanctions from the US, which unilaterally withdrew from the deal last year.

What happened on Thursday?
The IRGC said its air force had shot down a US "spy" drone in the early hours after the unmanned aircraft violated Iranian airspace near Kuhmobarak in the southern province of Hormozgan.

In a speech carried live on Iranian state television, IRGC commander-in-chief Maj-Gen Hossein Salami warned the US to respect Iran's territorial integrity.

"The downing of the American drone was a clear message to America, and the message is this: those who defend the borders of the Islamic nation of Iran will react in a total and decisive way to any intrusions by foreign elements on our land. Our borders are our red line."

He added: "Iran is not seeking war with any country, but we are fully prepared to defend Iran."


Media captionWhy does the Strait of Hormuz matter?
The US military's Central Command later confirmed that a US Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS-D) aircraft was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system while operating in what it said was international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 23:35 GMT on Wednesday (04:05 Iran time on Thursday).

"Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false," spokesman Navy Capt Bill Urban said. "This was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace."

The BAMS-D is a RQ-4A Global Hawk High-Altitude, Long, Endurance (HALE) drone that can carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions over vast ocean and coastal regions, according to the US military.

First direct incident of crisis
This is the first direct incident of the current crisis involving the US and Iranian militaries and is a powerful reminder of the dangers of escalation in the Gulf.

As far as the Iranians are concerned, the downing of the drone was intended to send a clear and explicit message to the Americans - "our borders are our red line" - a point underscored by the IRGC's commander-in-chief.

So there is no doubting who shot down the US drone, an MQ-4C Triton. It is a massive aircraft with a wing-span equivalent to a small airliner. But the two sides differ as to where it happened. The Iranians say it was in their airspace; the Americans say that it was not.

According to some reports, US President Donald Trump himself is eager to dial down the tension, fearing a spillover into outright conflict. But this is just the kind of incident that could provoke just such a cycle of action and response.

Is this the first time Iran has targeted a US drone?
Last week, the US military accused Iran of attempting to shoot down a US MQ-9 Reaper armed drone with a surface-to-air missile in an attempt to disrupt surveillance of one of the tankers that was attacked, the Kokuka Courageous.

The drone had earlier observed a fire on board the other tanker, the Front Altair.


Media captionMike Pompeo: US pressure on Iran has been "very effective"
The previous week, another US MQ-9 Reaper was shot down over Yemen by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Iran-backed rebel Houthi movement.

The US military said the altitude of the engagement "indicated an improvement over previous Houthi capability, which we assess was enabled by Iranian assistance". Iran denies providing weapons to the Houthis.

In 2011, Iran said it had captured a US RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone that had been reported lost by US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. It developed its own version of the drone, one of which was shot down by Israel last year.

US-Iran tension: Recent events
May 2018: US President Donald Trump withdraws unilaterally from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, and begins reinstating sanctions to force Iran to renegotiate the accord. Iran's economy slumps as they take effect.

2 May 2019: Mr Trump steps up pressure on Tehran by ending exemptions from secondary sanctions for countries still buying Iranian oil.

5 May: The US sends an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf because of "troubling and escalatory indications" related to Iran.

8 May: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will scale back its commitments under the nuclear deal in retaliation for the sanctions, including by allowing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to increase. Enriched uranium is used to make reactor fuel and potentially nuclear weapons.

12 May: Four oil tankers are damaged by explosions off the UAE coast in the Gulf of Oman. The UAE says the blasts were caused by limpet mines planted by a "state actor". The US blames Iran, but it denies the allegation.

13 June: Explosions hit two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The US again accuses Iran, releasing footage purportedly showing Iranian forces removing an unexploded limpet mine from a damaged vessel. Iran says the evidence is fabricated.

17 June: Iran says it will breach the limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium set under the nuclear deal on 27 June, unless Europe protects Iranian oil sales.

20 June: Iranian forces shoot down US military drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

US military confirms #Iran surface-to-air missile downed surveillance aircraft, says Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false.

 

[Shapur Zol Aktaf]

Until Iran present the destroyed Drone or US accept the downing of Drone and what kind of drone was shot down it will be disputable as the claimed Drone is high altitude drone very difficult to track by Iran , though Iran have masted in many air defense system recently . I hope the situation not escalated further in a already volatile region .

The US themselves admitted.

 

[monitor]

The US themselves admitted.

Yes just admitted .

 

[CrazyZ]

Things just got interesting. Let's see how Mr Trump reacts after all the rhetoric. It was unmanned but he has to retaliate some how or he will look like he is all talk.

 

[monitor]

Official confirmation came from: US CENTCOM command announced that the downed plane was an RQ-4A with BAMS-D:

Finally, CENTCOM clarifies, saying the drone was a Global Hawk used by the US Navy, and saying the downing was an "unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace."

 

[Falcon29]

There are reports that the US will respond in the coming hours. Not sure if that means sanctions or limited strike against Iranian AA?

What happens afterwards? Iran lashes out against Saudi Arabia and maybe Israel? Or they will take the hit?

 

[guest9999]

How brainwashed are you? Iran fully complied with the nuclear deal. The US, for domestic votes and because of the Israel lobby, unethically and probably illegally simply pulled out without even Europe's consent.

yes... and Iran, instead of using the opportunity to normalize relations with the West by dismantling their terror infrastructure and rebuild their economy - which is really what Obama wanted, a new ally in the Middle East as the GCC countries were incompetent - instead took that as a cue to expand beyond their borders, adding Iraq, Syria, Yemen to their religious empire. These militia and their increasing arsenal of ballistic missiles and other weaponry threatened Israel & GCC and put their lobbies and soft power at work, rest is history. It's very hard for the US and the West to continue dealing with Iran, while religious zealot militias roam Iraq as a pseudo-army, secretly targeting troops based in Iraq.

Iran has internal threats due to instability. Not surprising their people are protesting because of a sinking economy, while they see how religious zealots created another army (IRGC) to protect their power and continue to expand their terror infrastructure throughout the region, spending billions to prop up Syrian leader who butchers his own people by bombing hospitals. Now their external threat just shot up exponentially with aircraft carriers sitting out in their front lawn.

Lol, what kind of country maintains two separate military, one to defend the border, one to fight the other in case it tries to conduct a coup?

When the US decides it wants war, it manufactures situations / confrontations or simply engages in false flag attacks to justify intervention. So, Iran should not worry about what can or cannot cause escalation --- the US will ensure escalation regardless. Iran should protect its interests aggressively and hold its head high.

Yep, and now IRGC gave them the justification they needed. They didn't bring their carrier battle group, bombers, additional troops to the Gulf for no reason. Iran foolishly took the bait and that too, without having anywhere near enough firepower to win. There is a chance US might not attack, there is a chance it may. Before this incident, all Iran had to do was wait it out like Pakistan and many other countries under threat do. You lay down, play dead, and let the bear lost interest.

Remember Iraq? No WMDs found --- still invaded with hundreds of thousands of civilians paying the price.

Yep, so what? Unless a country has the might and power to take on the US, it should just shut up. Even China is not foolish enough to target US ships & aircraft flying near its territory. Do you want to ask PLA why it doesn't scream the "ghairat" argument and shoot? What about Russia trying to stop US onslaught in Syria, why doesn't it bother? US has enough firepower to take on world's countries and still win in a conventional war. It is precisely because of this reason, Pakistan's military didn't even bother engaging US during humiliating OBL raid and made up excuses like radars being shut off, lol.

@LeGenD can break it down for you what the US can do.

 

[Kastor]

They have done this several times to Iranian drones in Syria. Nobody starts war over a drone
Poor drone operator. Will never know what hit it!

Well, I disagree, Trump is a vain man, he doesn't want to look weak, if I was assessing this development I would report that this incident will now lead to the U.S. striking Iranian assets. If I'm wrong, I will admit it later....but for now I think we better be ready for a kinetic reaction...........

PS: I also want to go on record and say this is was a not a good move by the IRGC.

 

[jamal18]

yes... and Iran, instead of using the opportunity to normalize relations with the West by dismantling their terror infrastructure and rebuild their economy - which is really what Obama wanted, a new ally in the Middle East as the GCC countries were incompetent - instead took that as a cue to expand beyond their borders, adding Iraq, Syria, Yemen to their religious empire. These militia and their increasing arsenal of ballistic missiles and other weaponry threatened Israel & GCC and put their lobbies and soft power at work, rest is history. It's very hard for the US and the West to continue dealing with Iran, while religious zealot militias roam Iraq as a pseudo-army, secretly targeting troops based in Iraq.

Iran has internal threats due to instability. Not surprising their people are protesting because of a sinking economy, while they see how religious zealots created another army (IRGC) to protect their power and continue to expand their terror infrastructure throughout the region, spending billions to prop up Syrian leader who butchers his own people by bombing hospitals. Now their external threat just shot up exponentially with aircraft carriers sitting out in their front lawn.

Lol, what kind of country maintains two separate military, one to defend the border, one to fight the other in case it tries to conduct a coup?

Yep, and now IRGC gave them the justification they needed. They didn't bring their carrier battle group, bombers, additional troops to the Gulf for no reason. Iran foolishly took the bait and that too, without having anywhere near enough firepower to win. There is a chance US might not attack, there is a chance it may. Before this incident, all Iran had to do was wait it out like Pakistan and many other countries under threat do. You lay down, play dead, and let the bear lost interest.


Yep, so what? Unless a country has the might and power to take on the US, it should just shut up. Even China is not foolish enough to target US ships & aircraft flying near its territory. Do you want to ask PLA why it doesn't scream the "ghairat" argument and shoot? What about Russia trying to stop US onslaught in Syria, why doesn't it bother? US has enough firepower to take on world's countries and still win in a conventional war. It is precisely because of this reason, Pakistan's military didn't even bother engaging US during humiliating OBL raid and made up excuses like radars being shut off, lol.

@LeGenD can break it down for you what the US can do.

You make it sound as if it is Iran trampling on the middle east and creating problems. It's the US, under instructions from its' Zionist master, that is the rogue state. It is the US that has destroyed Libya, Iraq and Syria. Now it's Iran's turn?

Let's see what happens.

 

[Gangetic]

yes... and Iran, instead of using the opportunity to normalize relations with the West by dismantling their terror infrastructure and rebuild their economy - which is really what Obama wanted, a new ally in the Middle East as the GCC countries were incompetent - instead took that as a cue to expand beyond their borders, adding Iraq, Syria, Yemen to their religious empire. These militia and their increasing arsenal of ballistic missiles and other weaponry threatened Israel & GCC and put their lobbies and soft power at work, rest is history. It's very hard for the US and the West to continue dealing with Iran, while religious zealot militias roam Iraq as a pseudo-army, secretly targeting troops based in Iraq.

Iran has internal threats due to instability. Not surprising their people are protesting because of a sinking economy, while they see how religious zealots created another army (IRGC) to protect their power and continue to expand their terror infrastructure throughout the region, spending billions to prop up Syrian leader who butchers his own people by bombing hospitals. Now their external threat just shot up exponentially with aircraft carriers sitting out in their front lawn.

Lol, what kind of country maintains two separate military, one to defend the border, one to fight the other in case it tries to conduct a coup?

Yep, and now IRGC gave them the justification they needed. They didn't bring their carrier battle group, bombers, additional troops to the Gulf for no reason. Iran foolishly took the bait and that too, without having anywhere near enough firepower to win. There is a chance US might not attack, there is a chance it may. Before this incident, all Iran had to do was wait it out like Pakistan and many other countries under threat do. You lay down, play dead, and let the bear lost interest.


Yep, so what? Unless a country has the might and power to take on the US, it should just shut up. Even China is not foolish enough to target US ships & aircraft flying near its territory. Do you want to ask PLA why it doesn't scream the "ghairat" argument and shoot? What about Russia trying to stop US onslaught in Syria, why doesn't it bother? US has enough firepower to take on world's countries and still win in a conventional war. It is precisely because of this reason, Pakistan's military didn't even bother engaging US during humiliating OBL raid and made up excuses like radars being shut off, lol.

@LeGenD can break it down for you what the US can do.

Correct. All you have to do is compare the military budgets of the various countries to understand the situation here.