U.S. military officials tell NBC News a U.S. drone was shot down in international airspace over the Straight of Hormuz. Iran says it attacked the pilotless plane when it entered Iranian airspace.
“Central Command spokesman Capt. Bill Urban said in a statement that a surface-to-air missile hit an RQ-4A Global Hawk in international airspace above the strait. He called the incident “an unprovoked attack.”
The Global Hawk drone was reportedly hit by a surface to air missile.
The report of the shoot down comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. It will no doubt be seen as a provocation by some in the White House.
Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, issued this statement:
“Shooting down the American spy drone had a clear, decisive, firm and accurate message. The message is that the guardians of the borders of Islamic Iran will decisively respond to the violation of any stranger to this land. The only solution for the enemies is to respect the territorial integrity and national interests of Iran.”
