Revolutionary Guard: Iran shoots down 2 western drones

Iranian commander says spy planes intercepted in Persian Gulf; claims many other aircraft have been shot down, copied and mass produced.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards volunteers (photo credit: Associated Press)
Iranian Revolutionary Guards volunteers
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Iran shot down two "western drone reconnaissance" aircraft in the Persian Gulf, a senior Revolutionary Guard commander was quoted as saying by the semi-official FARS News Agency on Sunday.
"Many spy planes and advanced planes of our enemies have been shot down... We have also shot down two spy planes in the Persian Gulf," said Amir Ali Hajizadeh. "But it is the first time we are announcing it."
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The US Navy's 5th Fleet, which is based in the Gulf, said it has no reports of aircraft downed "recently."
Hajizadeh did not specify when the aircraft were shot down.
The Revolutionary Guard commander said that after shooting down the planes Iran had copied them and produced them in mass numbers through "reverse engineering."
Hajizadeh's comments did not mark the first time Iran has claimed to have shot down western spy aircraft.
In January 2007, Iranian MP Seyed Nezam Mola Hoveizeh told FARS that Iran had shot down a spy drone of the US army that was trying to cross the borders.
"Americans send such spy drones to the region every now and then," the lawmaker further pointed out.
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Associated Press contributed to this report