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Pentagon confirms Iran fired on unarmed US drone

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    Aircraft was flying in international airspace

  • Duration 6:15
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Fox News alert more -- breaking news out of the Pentagon as it confirms that Iran fired on an unarmed US drone back on November 1.

The unmanned predator drone was apparently conducting.

Routine surveillance.

Some sixteen miles off the coast.

And the attack marks the first time ever that a US drone has been fired upon by -- -- and fighter jets.

-- -- John Bolton are former US ambassador to patients to come back and he did thank you sir and back with us as well as our national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin is live at the Pentagon.

And that's are coming to get you to react and minute Jennifer just -- -- -- couple things up with you because you said.

-- first time it's happened the drone was doing routine maritime surveillance it wasn't yet.

-- does the Pentagon say this was an act of war.

Well the Pentagon wouldn't go -- George Little with -- that question during the briefing any said he wouldn't get into quote legal characterizations.

But it is as you mentioned the first time an American drone has ever been.

Fired on by -- -- an aircraft in fighter jets.

And it was in international waters it was sixteen miles off the coast of Iran it also is important to point out Megan that this was a classified mission that.

Suggests that well it may while the Pentagon may say it was routine surveillance of the maritime -- it was a classified mission.

Ambassador your reaction.

Well you know the -- -- have gotten at least one other American -- they claim they shot it down we claim that it landed by malfunction but.

In any event there obviously.

Intending.

To show that that they are prepared to to use force.

To brush us back and I think although the timing of this was before the election.

I I think there is something to the proposition that the Iran -- are trying to.

Showed the United States that any use of military force against their nuclear program would would would not go unattended generous or.

-- understanding about whether the Iran -- intended to bring this thing down -- or were you know.

Shooting but missing intentionally just as sort of you know put put a thumb in our face.

Well it's a good question and US military intelligence isn't sure if the Iranian fighter jets -- -- -- 25 frog front foot aircraft whether they missed because they were.

A bad shot or whether they were warning shots I think they were taking that shooting pretty seriously.

And and they missed.

And also to add to what ambassador Bolton said that sentinel drone that went down.

Inside Iran.

Was flying.

On a classified mission and it had crossed and this is the one -- months ago that.

That what I it was brought down for them somehow inside Iran.

That was a very.

A big loss for the Pentagon it was -- a stealth drone.

And it was on a classified mission inside -- ran taking a look at some of -- -- nuclear site.

See you do you.

Believe.

That this was not disclosed ambassador because it was a classified mission another -- is there any reason to doubt.

That that was the reason given that this happened a couple of days before presidential election.

You know will not not clear why it's come out now but but I do think that that we've -- I hope anyway lots of drones inside and outside -- -- Looking at -- nuclear operations their ballistic missile programs the disposition of their forces.

But nobody should be surprised that we've got.

Drones and and other equipment out there.

I would think that the Ryans did want to shoot this down and and if they could captured and use it for their own part.

The other thing Jennifer mentioned was that we protested the incidents.

I want -- we're we're up against other heartbreaking and hold it as over Canada to whom -- and is that.

Is there more we could or should be doing that's what we'll talk about next.

Fox News alert as we get more on this information that an unmanned US predator drone was shot -- By Iran -- was not hit.

But the incident happened on November 1 and we are just now learning of it I -- -- start with you again Jennifer -- -- tested the incident what does that mean.

Well that means that the State Department through this with delegation that represents the US and -- -- because as you know the US doesn't have an embassy in Iran.

Hasn't had one since 1979 and the Swiss represent the US -- -- the State Department protested saying that this drone was flying in international waters.

When the two SU 25.

Fighter jets fired at it.

Is that what we are supposed to do ambassador.

Right that this -- are protecting power in Tehran and I'm sure is a very stiff note by the State Department.

You know look this is if if you don't like this kind of behavior from Iran now assuming our.

Drone was in international airspace just imagine what it's going to be like one Iran gets nuclear weapons what do you make of it -- -- -- they just trying to be provocative offense.

Well I think they're trying to show that they're ready they don't they obviously don't like this surveillance I think -- are worried more about Israel taking.

Military action preemptive military action against there.

-- nuclear program and they'd love to bring down another American drone it would be a propaganda coup for them if they could it also has the that's side benefit of the increasing tensions in the Persian gulf I -- the oil for oil traders are now I'll bidding up the price of petroleum on the international market that's another plus for Iran as well.

Jennifer the distinction here -- I understand between and other -- in -- when is this when was it was definitely an international airspace sources in Iran in airspace.

That's certainly what the Pentagon says the previous one are Q1 seventy sentinel that went down in December of 2011.

That was actually that went down over Iranian airspace and it was we we eventually learn from US officials it was monitoring.

Iran nuclear sites -- is that.

More significant.

Attempt because yours you're allowed to be against -- international airspace -- -- I think you both Jennifer ambassador all the -- we appreciate you being here.

On his breaking news and we will be right back to --

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