Iran missed a hit on a US drone watching over the site of the attacked tankers in the Gulf of Oman by 'approximately one kilometer', U.S. Central Command has said.
The MQ-9 had observed the Norwegian Front Altair on fire – which 23 mariners were later rescued from – and a spokesperson said it was likely an attempt to intercept the observation from the incident on Thursday.
'According to our assessment, a modified Iranian SA-7 surface-to-air missile attempted to shoot down a U.S. MQ-9, at 6:45 a.m. local time, June 13, over the Gulf of Oman, to disrupt surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous,' CENTCOM's Lt. Col. Earl Brown told ABC News on Saturday.
'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.'
Iran missed a hit on a US drone watching over site of attacked Gulf of Oman tankers. This undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows a MQ-9 Reaper
The MQ-9 had observed the Norwegian Front Altair on fire with 23 mariners on board Thursday
Spokesperson said it was an attempt to intercept observation from Kokuka Courageous attack
The United States has accused the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of placing mines on the hulls of the Courageous but one did not detonate.
This week video was shared claiming to be IRGC heading back to retrieve the mine that did not go off.
On Saturday the men on board the Front Altair were finally on their way home after being flown to the United Arab Emirates.
A handout photo made available by the US Navy shows sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) rendering aid to the crew of the
