E-Paper
Iran displays downed US drone
Iran displayed an aircraft on Thursday that it said was a US spy drone brought down last week by an "electronic ambush," a feat that prompted boasts of Iranian technological prowess in face of increased Western hostility.
Iran displayed an aircraft on Thursday that it said was a US spy drone brought down last week by an "electronic ambush," a feat that prompted boasts of Iranian technological prowess in face of increased Western hostility.
Iranian state television used its main newscast to unveil the drone, identified as a stealth RQ-170 Sentinel made by Lockheed Martin. The drone was shown in a video at an undisclosed location. The belly of the plane was covered with banners saying, "We'll trample America underfoot" and "The US cannot do a damn thing."
"They wanted to spy on Iran, but it has turned against them," a news presenter said. "Iran's wisdom is keeping the Americans awake at night."
Brig Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, chief of the aerospace division of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, told state television that the drone was downed by a joint operation of the Guard and the regular army.
US intelligence agencies were examining the Iranian footage on Thursday, with some officials expressing skepticism that the aircraft shown was the downed drone.
(In exclusive partnership with The Washington Post)
