Iran claims US drone capture
December 4, 2012The 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)