Iran shot down drone in international airspace, US military says

The attack is the latest in a series of incidents to have raised tensions in the region

epa07659379 A handout photo made available by the US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DIVIDS) showing an RQ-4 Global Hawk, assigned to the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, sits on the flightline during during Red Flag Alaska 18-3, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, USA 16 August 2018. Media reports on 20 June 2019 state that Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claim to have shot down a US spy drone over Iranian airspace, near Kuhmobarak in Iran's southern Hormozgan province. The US military has not confirmed if a drone was hit.  EPA/Airman 1st Class Tristan Viglian / DIVIDS /HANDOUT 



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Iran shot down a US drone near the Strait of Hormuz early on Thursday, amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The US military's Central Command said the drone, an RQ-4 Global Hawk, was downed in international airspace, describing it as an "unprovoked attack".

The drone was hit at 3.35am UAE time, according to a statement released by Centcom spokesman Navy Captain Bill Urban.

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

But the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it brought the drone down over Iranian territory after it violated Iranian airspace.

"The US-made Global Hawk surveillance drone was brought down" in Iran's southern coastal province of Hormozgan, according to Iranian Press TV.

State television did not show images of the drone.

On Thursday, state TV reported that the IRGC advised against any aggression against Tehran, saying that the downing of the drone carried a "clear message" to the US.

"The downing of the American drone was a clear message to America ... our borders are Iran's red line and we will react strongly against any aggression ... Iran is not seeking war with any country, but we are fully prepared to defend Iran," said commander-in-chief Hossein Salami.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the US.

The US has accused Iran of being behind a series of operations against oil tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters.

Tehran has denied involvement.

Hormozgan borders the Strait of Hormuz, where the tanker attacks took place.

The relationship between Tehran and Washington has been particularly strained since the US last year withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

On Monday, the US announced it will send 1,000 extra troops to the Middle East to counter Iranian threats. In April, the US blacklisted the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

But Tehran's top security official said Wednesday there was no reason to worry about a conflict breaking out.

"There will be no war [between Iran and the US] since there is no reason for a war," said rear admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

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