Drone wars in Gulf

US Navy downs Iran plane after ‘hostile actions’ against ship

A US Navy ship has “destroyed” an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz after the aircraft threatened the vessel.

In the latest episode to stir tensions in the Gulf, US President Donald Trump said the drone had flown to within 1000m of the USS Boxer and ignored “multiple calls to stand down”.

“This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran against vessels operating in international waters,” he said. “The United States reserves the right to defend our personnel, facilities and interests. The drone was immediately destroyed.”

In a bizarre response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters at the United Nations yesterday: “We have no information about losing a drone today.”

The Pentagon said in a statement the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer had taken “defensive action” against a drone on Thursday morning as the Boxer was moving into the Strait of Hormuz.

“We do assess it was an Iranian drone,” Pentagon spokeswoman Rebecca Rebarich said.

Tensions in the Gulf region are high, with fears the US and Iran could stumble into war.

The US has blamed Iran for a series of attacks since mid-May on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil artery.

Tehran rejects the allegations.

In June, Iran shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf with a surface-toair missile. Iran says the drone was in its airspace, but Washington says it was in international skies. Mr Trump said at the time the US had come close to launching a military strike on Iran in retaliation.

It comes as the increased use of drones by Iran and its allies for surveillance and attacks across the Middle East is raising alarms in Washington.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the latest drone was brought down by electronic jamming.