The US military on Thursday (June 20th) confirmed that a US Navy drone was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system while operating in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.
"This was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false, it added.
The US military on Monday released new photos it says incriminate the Iranian regime in an attack last week on tanker ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous was carrying highly inflammable methanol through the Gulf of Oman on June 13th when it came under attack along with the Norwegian-operated Front Altair -- the second assault in a month in the strategic shipping lane.
Video footage shows an Iranian patrol boat removing an "unexploded limpet mine" from one of the vessels.
Commander Sean Kido of US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) said the mine used in the attack "is distinguishable and it is also strikingly bearing a resemblance to Iranian mines that have already been publicly displayed in Iranian military parades", AFP reported.
