U.S. drone shot down in international space, not in Iranian airspace, U.S. official says
Channel: the free Bird Roch
Date: 2019-06-20

A U.S. official said the drone was shot down in international airspace, and not in Iranian
airspace as reportedly claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
By Courtney Kube and Phil Helsel
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates — A U.S. drone was shot down in international airspace above the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, a U.S. official said, contradicting a claim by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard that it had shot down the aircraft after it entered that country’s airspace.

The U.S. official said that a surface-to-air missile hit the RQ-4 Global Hawk in international airspace above the strait. The official said U.S. officials consider it an unprovoked attack.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement early Thursday that the U.S.-made Global Hawk surveillance drone was brought down by its air force near the Kouh-e Mobarak region, which sits in the central district of Jask County, after the aircraft violated Iranian airspace.

The head of Iran’s national security council said the country’s airspace is its red line, and there would have been a firm response regardless of which country trespasses.

Central Command spokesman Capt. Bill Urban previously said that “no U.S. drone was operating in Iranian airspace today.”

The report of the downed drone comes amid rising tensions in the region, with U.S. officials blaming Iran for what they said was an attack on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. Iran has denied any involvement.
Shanahan stepped down Tuesday and withdrew his name from consideration for the Cabinet position, President Donald Trump said. The president said Secretary of the Army Mark Esper, a former Raytheon executive, will take Shanahan's place as acting defense secretary.

That announcement came within minutes of a report published in The Washington Post that outlined a series of alleged domestic violence incidents within Shanahan's family. Shanahan said in a statement that it was "unfortunate" that details from the Post story were "dredged up." He said that continuing with the confirmation process would harm his children. NBC News has not confirmed The Post’s report.