The Nato-led military force in Afghanistan said the drone reportedly shot down by Iran “may” belong to the United States.
“The UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) to which the Iranians are referring may be a US unarmed reconnaissance aircraft that had been flying a mission over western Afghanistan late last week,” the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.
Iran’s Al-Alam satellite channel, quoting a military source in Iran’s joint chiefs of staff, said late Sunday that a RQ-170 unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down “a few hours ago.”
The Fars news agency said the drone had made an incursion into Iran’s eastern airspace.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2011.
COMMENTS (37)
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@maestro: Well Iran is bestowed with oil..which unfortunately not same in pakistan cas. There should be only logical comparison..
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.I salute Iranian leaders on this achievement.Well done Irani leaders keep it up.The most important question rises here that if Iran can do so then why not Pakistan?
oo braaaavo,
with reference to my previous comment..
Iran is to US like Zulfiqar Mirza to Zardari!! =)
Just think!!
There is not much to say then that iranian nation and there leadership are united and they have digninty and self respect unlike us thats why we cant do nothing cause beggers cant be choosers !! and just look at the life style and living standard of iranian leadership and ours you will see the clear difference !!
Imagine a world without Iran...
do you know how much saudia arabia, uae and other gulf countries spend on defence budget only because of threats from one country?
Jahan aap ke soch khatam hoti hay, CIA wahan say sochna shuru karti hay!!
And yet no evidence from Iran.
The Armed forces chiefs and the General Sahib should go to Iranian Military Academy on desicion making and Action course instead of Kakul......I am sure you will see an improvement and less of excuses after their training from the Iranians
Iran can shoot the drones at it does not beg from USA for dollars nor does it go to IMF, WB pleading for loan reschedules, write-offs, deferments etc. Financial independence breeds political independence. Financial dependence breeds servitude and worthless political drama.
@maestro "Pakistan – learn from Iran – they have lived with sanctions for over 20 years now and still their GDP/capita is 5 times higher than Pakistan’s. Its called self-respect, self reliance and self defence! Well done Iran". . You imply that Iran economy is better than Pakistan's because they have thumbed their nose at the rest of the World (including your all weather friend China) --- but that ignores that Iran's economy is dominated by something Pakistan doesn't have -- OIL. Without oil Iran would be just another N Korea - despised and dirt poor.
even our tecnology nd missliles are better than iran........now pakistan and iran will crash america soon .....but naee hum tarpa tarpa k mare ge ....
@Mj: Aljazeera is an extended outlet of US media which always align with its government's aggressions policies. If it was me; I will be watching the Russian TV (RT) and Press TV which will show you the proof; the pics of downed killing machine that kills the innocents in most of cases. However; your slave mentality will only accepts if it's pronounced by the CNN but this time they are acknowledging as well that Iranians have downed this God Damn killing machine. Bravo to Iranians; what a brave nations and brave army.
@j. von hettlingen: Even your pathatic lying media CNN has acknowledged this news as true that Iran has downed this US spy drone. The Press TV (Iranian International Channel) did show dismantelled peices of Drone which was downed by Iranians in Qom. Well done Iran, US is not as advanced and mighty as it makes herself. If it was so mighty how com Veitkongs killed so many brutes (US ARMY).
@j. von hettlingen: yes, You can believe them in the same way , the world was asked ( not proved) to believe the story of OBL's killing. If that can be believed without any evidence then I see no reason why not this news can not be believed. Therefore, People will believe this as they believed that.
Being a military technology enthusiast. If true this is a very bid deal. RQ-170 Sentinel known as "the beast of Kandahar", is a top secret drone, with major stealth and reconnaissance and strike capabilities. Lockheed martin secret Skunkworks designed the thing. Its deployed for only covert mission. According to some sources it was used for months in Abbotabad before the OBL operation. Many ppl will be very very interested in this technology ( Chinese Russains etc). Of course the American explanation is nonsense as it was shot down in Qom (according to some reports) which is very far (more than 500 km) from the eastern border. In past two weeks they have been explosion in facilities in Isfahan and at a Missile base. We also had the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist and the Stux net virus. This must be a part of that covert campaign. Iranis will have to publish photos if they want the claim to be credible.
Learn from that Pakistanis
geo iran. i am proud of u.
Pakistan - learn from Iran - they have lived with sanctions for over 20 years now and still their GDP/capita is 5 times higher than Pakistan's. Its called self-respect, self reliance and self defence! Well done Iran.
@Mj: Shooting a drone is no big deal. Do you expect Iran to lick US boots when the US of A slap sanction & openly talk about war with Iran ? Iran is definitely not like Pakistani leadership & they like to live with dignity. Iranian navy openly crossed the Suez canal and is fighting a covert war with US troops in Iraq but uncle sam doesn't have the balls to do anything. Every single nation have to learn from iran about how to practice their sovereign rights.
MashaAllah: and then there are the english-loving slaves in Pakistan who have made it their life's mission to bend and prostrate towards their foster-fathers, for just for a few dollars more..their hatred for the masjid, the maulvi,the muslims, and mujahids is already legendary in the annals of Slavedoms. May Allah grant fortitude to muslims to confront head on, these enemies of Islam, within and without, with honour.
That's how you do it
Brave act, well done!! The people of Pakistan stand with Iran!!
Pakistan need to do the same from day one. Shooting down drones is not rocket science, When Iran does it so Pakistan can do it standing boldly in front of world showing that Muslims are still united.
Memo to COAS of Pakistan army... this is how its done.
well done Iran...i wish pakistan could also down US drones.peace loving nations should get united against tyranies of US.its time to say no to the only invader and oppresser of world.
Thats the way to go about it, so proud of you Iran !
My salute to the people of Iran and their Govt.
This is not the first time Iran is claiming to have taken down US aircraft. I will believe it after some kind of confirmation, otherwise it is just Iranian posturing.
From the Al-Jazeera article on the situation: . "Iran said in January that two pilotless spy planes it had shot down over its airspace were US-operated and offered to put them on public display. In July, Iran also claimed to have shot down a drone, but never shared video or photographic evidence." Source:Iran military 'downs US drone'
In July Iran announced it had shot down a drone over the holy city of Qom, near its Fordu nuclear site. Last January, it said it downed two "Western spy drones" in the Gulf, but produced no evidence to support the report. Can we believe Iran this time?
Thank you Iran for showing them their "Aukaat"
way to go iran! i hope pakistan follows suit!
Salute to the Iranians for taking the courahe and giving a befitting reply to the aggressor. The question arises what had stopped Pakistani Airforce to do the same. After Abbotabad event why Pakistani forces do not took action durin NATO forces attack on Pak.Army. This is a serious question to be asked with the Pak. Army High-ups. By the MEMOGATE Scandal, we are hiding the Pak.Armies slackness in the whole episode. It should also be kept in mind that after Abbotabad event PAF chief had given an statement that PAF can down any invaders, only permission is required. The question is why PAF waited for the permission when our airspace was being violated. The conclusion is that Pak. forces are equally responsible for NATO attacks. WELLDONE IRANIANS