Iran 'confirms' shooting down drones in the Persian Gulf

[News_Editor]

Iran 'confirms' shooting down drones in the Persian Gulf

2011-01-18 10:30:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Iran on Monday confirmed that it shot down several Israeli, American and British unmanned drones in the Persian Gulf, claims which the Pentagon has denied.

The announcement was made by a senior Iranian military official who spoke under the condition of anonymity, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The official added that Iran has eliminated several drones during the last 7 years.

"We have experienced similar incidents many times in the past and there have even been drones belonging to the occupying Israel, the United States and Britain which have been shot down in the Persian Gulf during the past 7 years," the official said.

On Sunday, reports surfaced indicating that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) air defense units shot down several U.S. drones outside Iranian airspace. The information was later confirmed by Deputy Head of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Gholam Ali Rashid.

However, Iran did not present any evidence to support its claims. On Monday, the United States denied Iranian claims that the IRGC shot down U.S. drone surveillance aircraft in the Persian Gulf.

Pentagon officials acknowledged that some unmanned drones have crashed in the region in the past due to mechanical difficulties, however the U.S. said there was no evidence to support the Iranian claims.

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