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Iran claims US drone capture

December 4, 2012

Iran has captured a US drone that was flying in the country's airspace, state media reported. In November, warplanes shot at a US surveillance drone that Iran claimed had entered its airspace.

https://p.dw.com/p/16vHt
US Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Kropiewnicki, a combat videographer assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Combat Camera, launches a Boeing ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during the training exercise Desert Talon 2-06 onboard Marine Corps Air Station. (Photo: Newscom)
Image: picture-alliance/DoD

The Fars news agency reported that the naval unit of the Revolutionary Guard captured the drone after it crossed into Iranian airspace from international territory over the Persian Gulf.

"The unmanned US drone patrolling Persian Gulf waters, performing reconnaissance and gathering intel, was captured as soon as it entered Iranian airspace," the elite unit's naval forces announced.

Though Iranian television broadcast footage of what it reported was the drone, the US Navy said shortly thereafter that it had not lost any such aircraft.

In November's incident US authorities had claimed that the drone had been international airspace when it was shot at.

Iran identified the captured drone as the Boeing-manufactured ScanEagle of the type pictured above. The 1.2-meter (4-foot) long drone has a 3-meter wingspan.

mkg/msh (AFP, Reuters)