World War 3 fears as Iran fired a missile just hours before tanker attack (Image: GETTY)
A US official said the missile missed the aircraft and landed in the water, according to CNN. The official said the MQ-9 drone saw Iranian vessels nearing the tankers before Thursday’s attacks. However, they did not disclose whether the US saw vessels attacking the tankers.
The same official said just days prior to the attack, a US reaper drone was shot down in the Red Sea by an alleged Iranian missile fired by Houthi rebels.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the attack on the tankers on Thursday.
He said: “Iran is lashing out because the regime wants our successful maximum pressure campaign lifted.
“The international community condemns Iran’s assault on the freedom of navigation and the targeting of innocent civilians.”
