海角大神

Iran targets unarmed US drone

A Nov. 1 attack was the first time Iran has attempted to hit an unmanned US aircraft. It is unclear whether the Iranians intended to shoot down the drone, but the Pentagon's 'working assumption' is that they did. 

Iranian warplanes fired at an unarmed U.S. drone in international airspace last week but did not hit the aircraft, the听Pentagon听said on Thursday, disclosing details of an unprecedented incident that triggered a formal warning to听Tehran听through diplomatic channels.

The Nov. 1 intercept was the first time听Tehran听had fired at an unmanned American aircraft, in a stark reminder of how tensions between the听United States听补苍诲 Iran听could escalate quickly into violence.

If听Iran had hit the drone, as the听Pentagon听believes it was trying to do, it could have forced American retaliation - with the potential consequences that entails.

According to the timeline provided by the听Pentagon, two Iranian听SU-25听"Frogfoot" aircraft intercepted the American drone at about 4:50 a.m. EST (0850 GMT) as it conducted a routine, but classified, surveillance mission over Gulf waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast.

笔别苍迟补驳辞苍听蝉辫辞办别蝉尘补苍听George Little听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.

International airspace begins after 12 nautical miles and Little said the drone at no point entered Iranian airspace. Last year, a crashed CIA drone was recovered inside Iran.

Defense Secretary听Leon Panetta听was quickly notified of the incident, as were members of听Congress听补苍诲 the听White House, Little added. The听United States听also sent Iran听a warning through diplomatic channels, saying it would defend its military assets and would keep sending aircraft on such surveillance operations.

"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."

Many questions about the incident remain, including why Iranian warplanes could not manage - if they wanted - to shoot down an unarmed drone, which lacks advanced capabilities to outmaneuver them.

Asked whether the Iranian aircraft were simply firing warning shots, Little said: "Our working assumption is that they fired to take it down. You'll have to ask the Iranians why they engaged in this action."

There was no immediate comment by Iranian officials.

Sanctions tightened听

笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听Barack Obama听has resisted calls from inside the听United States听补苍诲听Israel听for military action against Iran, focusing instead on crushing rounds of sanctions, which were tightened again on Thursday.

The听United States听imposed sanctions on听'Iran's communications minister and the听Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance听for jamming international satellite broadcasts to Iran听补苍诲 censoring and closing newspapers and detaining journalists.

The sanctions are part of broader efforts to isolate听Tehran, which denies U.S. accusations that it seeks to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civilian atomic program.

In an effort to drive Iran听to compromise, the听United States听补苍诲 the听European Union听have gone for the jugular -听Iran's oil exports - over the past year.

The听United States听补苍诲听Israel, which regards a nuclear-armed Iran听as a threat to its existence, have also hinted at the possibility of military strikes on Iran听as a last resort.

Obama has said the听United States听will "do what we must" to prevent Iran听from acquiring nuclear weapons and has repeatedly said that all options are on the table - code for the possibility of using force.