Iran: US drone was on intelligence mission

The US drone driven away by Iranian fighter jets earlier this month was on an intelligence gathering mission near Iran’s Kharg Island, the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Forces Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said. According to Iranian news agency (FNA), Hajizadeh also noted that the aircraft was gathering intelligence on Kharg Island and voyage of oil tankers in there. “The US spy drone had entered the Iranian airspace above the southern coasts of the Bushehr province and was faced with the timely reaction of IRGC fighter jets,” Hajizadeh said. “We do not ignore our national interests and if the enemy crosses our red-lines and this incident is repeated, we will deal with it more harshly,” Brigadier General Hajizadeh said. “We fired warning shots and if they do not pay attention, they may be confronted with harsher actions and responses,” he said. Iranian fighter jets had opened fire a week ago on unmanned US reconnaissance aircraft operated by the US Air Force in the Gulf.