Iran claims to have shot down US drones
Iran has claimed its defence forces have shot down two pilotless American survelliance drones in the Gulf.
The US military and Central Intelligency Agency regularly use drones to launch missile strikes in Afghanistan and in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt Photo: AP
by Our Foreign Staff 4:16PM GMT 02 Jan 2011
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the air force wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Guards said that the drones had been involved in "violations against our soil".
"In the Persian Gulf, we have downed two of their planes and this is the first time that we are saying it," he said.
He also boasted that all "enemy" bases in the region were within range of Iranian missiles, referring to arch-foe the United States.
He said that even the aircraft carriers deployed in the region were no longer a threat to Iran.
"There was a time when an aircraft carrier was something to rely on and when they told a country that this warship was moving towards your shore, the government of that country would be toppled," Hajizadeh said.
"But now this has become a threat for them. We have full control of our enemies.
We notice whatever changes taking place on our shores.
When they go on alert in the warships or when they put on life jackets to launch boats in the sea, we are aware of that."
The US navy's Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, just across the Gulf from Iran.
Iranian commanders have repeatedly threatened to block navigation through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, if it comes under attack.
Sixty percent of the world's oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military and Central Intelligency Agency regularly use drones to launch missile strikes in Afghanistan and in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt but do not generally confirm attacks.
The drone strikes are deeply unpopular among the Pakistani public but the United States says the strikes have killed a number of high-value targets.
