This action by Iran's Air Force is a clear warning that any invasion
will be repulsed. People should also note the fighters involved, the
SU-25 is more capable than most nato fighters, and one was used to kill
the chechen leader dudayev in 1995, as the SU-25 has the ability to
listen in on mobile phone conversations.
News - English
News numbre: 9107118018
2012-11-09 - 18:15
Iran Confirms Engagement with US Drone
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi on
Friday confirmed reports about Iran's confrontation with an enemy
aircraft in the airspace over the Persian Gulf, saying that the aircraft
was shooed away by Iranian fighter jets.
"Last week an unidentified aircraft entered the airspace over Iran's
territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, which was forced to flee due to
the prompt, smart and decisive action of the Islamic Republic of Iran's
Armed forces," Vahidi said in a statement released by the Iranian
Defense Ministry on Friday.
He stressed that the incident and similar events in the past all
indicate that "the Islamic Republic of Iran is vigilantly and precisely
monitoring all moves and provides decisive, necessary and prompt
response with efficient power" to any hostile move.
The Iranian defense minister further stated that Iran is pursuing the
case at relevant international bodies using all available capacities.
On Thursday the Pentagon reported that Iranian fighter jets had opened
fire on a US drone over the Persian Gulf on November 1, but did not hit
the aircraft.
According to the timeline provided by the Pentagon, two Iranian SU-25
"Frogfoot" aircraft intercepted the American drone at about 4:50 a.m.
EST (0850 GMT) as it conducted a classified mission over Persian Gulf
waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast.
In response, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for
Cultural Affairs and Defense Publicity Brigadier General Massoud
Jazayeri told FNA that the Iranian Armed Forces repel any aggression
against the country
"The defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran give decisive response to
any aerial, ground or sea aggression," Jazayeri told FNA, responding to
a question about Pentagon's Thursday report.
"If any kind of alien flying object wants to enter our country's
airspace, our armed forces will confront it," Jazayeri added.
The Pentagon report was given a wide coverage in the US media and sent
gold prices high up in the world markets.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the aircraft fired multiple rounds
at the Predator drone and followed it for at least several miles as it
moved farther away from Iranian airspace.
"We believe that they fired at least twice and made at least two
passes," he said.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was quickly notified of the incident, as
were members of Congress and the White House, Little added.
Political analysts believe that the Iranian fighters intended to just
shoo away the American predator.
The United States also sent Iran a warning through diplomatic channels,
saying it would defend its military assets and would keep sending
aircraft on similar missions in the Persian Gulf.
"There is absolutely no precedence for this," Little said. "This is the
first time that a (drone) has been fired upon to our knowledge by
Iranian aircraft."
American officials said that the Iranian SU-25s were flown by the
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as the IRGC is responsible for
protecting security over the Persian Gulf.
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