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Video by Thomas Gagnier

U.S. Navy RQ-4 smoke

U.S. Central Command Public Affairs

June 20, 2019 | 0:15

Attributable to Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, Commander, U.S. Air Forces
Central Command

"A U.S. Navy RQ-4 was flying over the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz
on a surveillance mission in international airspace in the vicinity of
recent IRGC maritime attacks when it was shot down by an IRGC surface to air
missile fired from a location in the vicinity of Goruk, Iran.

This was an unprovoked attack on a U.S. surveillance asset that had not
violated Iranian airspace at any time during its mission.

This attack is an attempt to disrupt our ability to monitor the area
following recent threats to international shipping and free flow of
commerce.

Iranian reports that this aircraft was shot down over Iran are categorically
false.

The aircraft was over the Strait of Hormuz and fell into international
waters.

At the time of the intercept, the RQ-4 was operating at high-altitude
approximately 34 kilometers from the nearest point of land on the Iranian
coast.

This dangerous and escalatory attack was irresponsible and occurred in the
vicinity of established air corridors between Dubai, UAE, and Muscat Oman,
possibly endangering innocent civilians."