Posted on 06/17/2019 1:21:16 PM PDT by robowombat
U.S. Says Iranian Missile Fired at Drone in Gulf of Oman Incident
By: Sam LaGrone June 16, 2019 5:08 PM • Updated: June 17, 2019 2:24 PM
An MQ-9 Reaper remotely aircraft takes off July 17 from Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
American officials say an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper was shot at by an Iranian missile as it overflew two tankers that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.
The unmanned aerial vehicle was monitoring the aftermath of the attacks on M/V Kokuka Courageous and M/V Front Altair when an Iranian surface to air missile was fired at the MQ-9, according to a Sunday statement from U.S. Central Command.
“On June 13, 2019, according to our assessment, a modified Iranian SA-7 surface-to-air missile attempted to shoot down a U.S. MQ-9 over the Gulf of Oman to disrupt surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous,” Lt. Col. Earl Brown said the statement.
“The MQ-9 had arrived minutes earlier at 6:20 a.m. local time at the motor tanker (M/T) Altair and had observed the ship on fire.”
According to U.S. Central Command, the missile was ineffective never came more than a kilometer from the MQ-9.
Screenshot of a US NAvy video in which US Central Command claims Iranian forces are captured removing a limpet mine from Kokuka Courageous on June 13, 2019.
CENTCOM did neither provide additional imagery or video to accompany the statement nor say if the Reaper was armed.
On Thursday, the U.S. released video footage of personnel in military uniforms in a small attack craft along the starboard side of Kokuka Courageous. While CENTCOM didn’t specify where the footage came from, it’s likely it originated from the electro-optical sensors aboard MQ-9.
In addition to the MQ-9 over the Gulf of Oman, Central Command confirmed that Houthi forces in Yemen had successfully shot down an MQ-9 on June 6 with an SQ-6 surface-to-air missile.
“The altitude of the engagement indicated an improvement over previous Houthi capability, which we assess was enabled by Iranian assistance,” the statement read.
The following is the complete June 16, 2019 statement from U.S. Central Command.
TAMPA, Florida, June 16, 2019 —
A U.S. MQ-9 was shot down over Yemen by what we assess to be a Houthi SA-6 surface to air missile on Jun 6, 2019. The altitude of the engagement indicated an improvement over previous Houthi capability, which we assess was enabled by Iranian assistance.
On June 13, 2019, according to our assessment, a modified Iranian SA-7 surface-to-air missile attempted to shoot down a U.S. MQ-9 over the Gulf of Oman to disrupt surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous. The MQ-9 had arrived minutes earlier at 6:20 a.m. local time at the motor tanker (M/T) Altair and had observed the ship on fire.
The SA-7 was ineffective and its closest point of approach to the MQ-9 was approximately one kilometer.
Subsequent analysis indicates that this was a likely attempt to shoot down or otherwise disrupt the MQ-9 surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous.
Lt. Col. Earl Brown, U.S. Central Command Spokesman
Well...was it shot at or shot down?
The sanctions are hurting Iran badly and they are lashing out and pushing the envelope in frustration. Yet they know if they actually attack an American ship on station or one escorting tankers, many of the mullahs and their followers will achieve their most fervent wish. They will achieve martyrdom. Also their entire nuclear infrastructure will be destroyed within an hour of an attack on American ships.
“Well...was it shot at or shot down?”
The excerpt says it was shot down.
Cool. We got more data on their targeting capabilities.
The next thing Iranians need to hear is a lot of bubbles as their boats sink to the ocean floor. Then we can talk about what you suggested if they still need convincing.
The excerpt says they -attempted- to shoot it down. It also says the nearest the missile got was about a kilometer away from the drone.
This **** is getting ridiculous.
This is what I was referring to in the excerpt of the article ...
“TAMPA, Florida, June 16, 2019 —
A U.S. MQ-9 was shot down over Yemen by what we assess to be a Houthi SA-6 surface to air missile on Jun 6, 2019.”
Looks like the mullah chickens and their goofy IRGC are afraid of attacking anything substantial.
Why fingerprint Tampa?
Trump is running the show from Mara Lago :)
Oh, I see. So, Houthis shot one down in a previous incident, but the Iranians did not in the most recent incident.
OK. Thanks.
Shooting at a US military vehicle is usually a death sentence for those doing the shooting. The US has used surprising restraint.
Yo Rinny! Why ain’t you weighing in on this one?
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