[h=3]By JULIAN E. BARNES[/h]
AFP/Getty ImagesThis undated U.S. Air Force photo shows an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft as it prepares for takeoff in support of operations in Southwest Asia.
WASHINGTON—Iranian fighter planes shot at an unarmed U.S. drone earlier this month, U.S. defense officials said Thursday.
An MQ-1 Predator drone flying 16 miles off the coast of Iran, in international waters, was fired upon by two Iranian fighter planes, both Su-25 fighters, George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said.
The incident occurred on Nov. 1 at 4:15 a.m., eastern time. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and White House officials were notified of the incident soon after, early on Nov. 1.
Mr. Little said the incident wasn't revealed publicly because the drone was on a deployment to conduct classified reconnaissance. Defense officials said politics didn't play a role in keeping the incident quiet.
The fighter planes shot bursts of machine-gun fire at the drone, Mr. Little said. The planes fired at least two volleys. The drone didn't appear to be hit by the gunfire, Mr. Little said, but added that the gunfire didn't appear to be warning shots.
"Our working assumption is they fired to take it down," said Mr. Little.
Mr. Little said the drone, after being fired upon, flew further out to sea and turned to return to base. The Iranian craft followed the drone for a period, eventually breaking off.
Mr. Little said this was the first time the Iranians had fired at a U.S. drone. In December 2011, the Iranians captured a stealth MQ-170 drone that went down inside Iran. U.S. officials said that drone crashed because of a mechanical issue and wasn't shot down.
Write to Julian E. Barnes at [email protected]
AFP/Getty ImagesThis undated U.S. Air Force photo shows an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft as it prepares for takeoff in support of operations in Southwest Asia.
WASHINGTON—Iranian fighter planes shot at an unarmed U.S. drone earlier this month, U.S. defense officials said Thursday.
An MQ-1 Predator drone flying 16 miles off the coast of Iran, in international waters, was fired upon by two Iranian fighter planes, both Su-25 fighters, George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said.
The incident occurred on Nov. 1 at 4:15 a.m., eastern time. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and White House officials were notified of the incident soon after, early on Nov. 1.
Mr. Little said the incident wasn't revealed publicly because the drone was on a deployment to conduct classified reconnaissance. Defense officials said politics didn't play a role in keeping the incident quiet.
The fighter planes shot bursts of machine-gun fire at the drone, Mr. Little said. The planes fired at least two volleys. The drone didn't appear to be hit by the gunfire, Mr. Little said, but added that the gunfire didn't appear to be warning shots.
"Our working assumption is they fired to take it down," said Mr. Little.
Mr. Little said the drone, after being fired upon, flew further out to sea and turned to return to base. The Iranian craft followed the drone for a period, eventually breaking off.
Mr. Little said this was the first time the Iranians had fired at a U.S. drone. In December 2011, the Iranians captured a stealth MQ-170 drone that went down inside Iran. U.S. officials said that drone crashed because of a mechanical issue and wasn't shot down.
Write to Julian E. Barnes at [email protected]