MNeagle
14th March 2013, 01:22 PM
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324532004578360631688435790.htmlht tp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324532004578360631688435790.htmlU. S. Fighters Warned Off Iranian JetBy JULIAN E. BARNES (http://gold-silver.us/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=JULIAN+E.+BARNES&bylinesearch=true)WASHINGTON—A U.S. drone conducting surveillance was approached by an Iranian fighter jet earlier this week, only to be warned off by American aircraft providing a security escort, Pentagon officials said Thursday.
One of two American fighter planes escorting the drone fired a flare as a warning to the Iranian plane, which broke off pursuit of the drone, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. The Iranian plane never got closer than 16 miles from the drone, the Pentagon said.
However, when the U.S. fighters spotted the Iranian plane, they closed to within 2 miles of the aircraft. U.S. officials wouldn't specify what kind of American planes were involved or precisely where the incident took place.
The encounter came as the latest incident between the U.S. and Iran as tensions ratchet up. Last November a pair of Iranian fighter planes fired on a drone conducting surveillance of Iran, but missed.
After that incident, Mr. Little said in his statement, the U.S. told Iran it would conduct surveillance flights in international airspace and that it would protect its assets.
"The United States communicated to the Iranians that we will continue to conduct surveillance flights over international waters consistent with long-standing practice and our commitment to the security of the region," Mr. Little said.
One of two American fighter planes escorting the drone fired a flare as a warning to the Iranian plane, which broke off pursuit of the drone, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. The Iranian plane never got closer than 16 miles from the drone, the Pentagon said.
However, when the U.S. fighters spotted the Iranian plane, they closed to within 2 miles of the aircraft. U.S. officials wouldn't specify what kind of American planes were involved or precisely where the incident took place.
The encounter came as the latest incident between the U.S. and Iran as tensions ratchet up. Last November a pair of Iranian fighter planes fired on a drone conducting surveillance of Iran, but missed.
After that incident, Mr. Little said in his statement, the U.S. told Iran it would conduct surveillance flights in international airspace and that it would protect its assets.
"The United States communicated to the Iranians that we will continue to conduct surveillance flights over international waters consistent with long-standing practice and our commitment to the security of the region," Mr. Little said.