US confirms Iranian missile has shot down drone

BBC ^ | June 20, 2019 | BBC News

[Jyotishi]

Image caption: One US official identified the drone as a US Navy MQ-4C Triton

A US military drone has been shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile while in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, US officials say.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it shot down the drone over Iranian airspace, near Kuhmobarak in the southern province of Hormozgan.

IRGC commander Maj-Gen Hossein Salami said the incident sent "a clear message to America", state media said.

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.

The US has 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.

Video caption The BBC's Mark Lowen reports: "It has sparked huge international tension"

[mylife]

Smells like smoke again.

[Yosemitest]

Time to destroy Iran's ability to shoot down anything.
Time for Iran to lose its government in one sudden strike from space.

[mylife]

Someone is pushing us to war.

[kaehurowing]

General Salami.

Is he a cousin of Baghdad Bob?

[mylife]

I do not believe this MQ-4C was IN Iranian airspace, it was designed to linger far outside of contested airspace.

[nathanbedford]

My $0.02:

The US should proceed as it has, not reacting, forcing the Iranians to ever more aggressive actions violative of international norms, building a case for military action as and when it becomes necessary, a case which will carry the allies.

Meanwhile, a diplomatic posture should be to enlist at least token participation by the Japanese whose ship was attacked and by the Europeans whose oil flow, or at least price of oil, will be affected.

In any event Trump should wait until after his G-7 meeting with the Chinese dictator.

The president should maintain a posture of sober reticence to resort to arms and wait for the Iranians to give him the Pearl Harbor he needs if he is to undertake any military operation.

As and when a military strike becomes unavoidable, it should be confined to see and air elements but it should be massive and thoroughly punitive. No attempt should be made to occupy, although it might be possible to ship arms to those Iranians who might take up arms against the regime. The entire Persian Gulf should be declared an international zone requiring permission from the US led coalition to enter and making any unauthorized entry liable to attack.

[mylife]

Boom! Top of the news this morning.

[Yosemitest]

If we’re going to do it, then do it right, with a sudden, overwhelming strike, taking out ALL of their governing body, including their mullahs.

[mylife]

I believe you are on the correct track.

This is all a pressure play designed to whip people up.

[mylife]

We are busting their balls.

[Yosemitest]

When you’re threatened by snakes, strike and kill their head.

[867V309]

The president should maintain a posture of sober reticence to resort to arms and wait for the Iranians to give him the Pearl Harbor he needs if he is to undertake any military operation.

those days are over.

revenge is best served cold, and, I might add, without knowing WHO served it.

[mylife]

So what’s with all the propaganda about whos serving what?

[mylife]

I have no love for the Mullahs, but they are not dumb enough to do this.

[RedMonqey]

Yep

[mylife]

“sparked huge international tension”

There’s yer clue.

[jimbug]

Yep. Kill’em all—twice.

[mylife]

Chavez thought he could play the same game.

[nathanbedford]

revenge is best served cold, and, I might add, without knowing WHO served it.

I don't know how you can serve up revenge at a scale which is painful enough to be meaningful without revealing WHO served it up.

Anyway, our strategic goal certainly should not be revenge but regime change if possible and that done without any American boots on the ground there. Revenge is for fools, we should look to our national security interests.