Unmanned American spy plane shot down over
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An unmanned American surveillance plane was shot down over Iraq on Monday in what officials claim is further proof of President Saddam Hussein's increased efforts to destroy allied aircraft.
Defence officials said the plane an RQ-1 Predator failed to return from a mission over Basra. The city is said to have strong air defences. "All of our manned aircraft have been accounted for," said Major Timothy Blair, a Pentagon spokesman. He would not confirm the loss of the unmanned plane, though two defence department officials were later quoted as saying that the Predator was believed to have been brought down.
In Iraq, the official news agency quoted a military spokesman, who said the American plane had contained "hi-tech equipment". He said: "Iraqi air defences have shot an American reconnaissance plane coming from Kuwaiti territory. This was an advanced plane which the Americans used during their aggression manoeuvres on Yugoslavia. Our air defences have been modernised to confront the planes of aggression."
Officials at the Iraqi Information Ministry said they were expecting to obtain a videotape showing the wreckage of the plane and that Iraqi television would broadcast it as soon as it was received.
The incident is believed to be the first time America has lost a reconnaissance plane over Iraq. Previously, the 27ft aircraft have been shot down over the Balkans area.
Officials say that Iraq has been increasing its efforts to destroy the American and British aircraft that patrol "no-fly" zones over southern and northern Iraq as part of a policy to protect the Kurdish and Shia populations. It has come closer in recent weeks, prompting retaliatory strikes on air defence radars and communications sites.
Baghdad said such attacks were on infrastructure targets and caused civilian deaths and injuries. In July, Iraq fired a missile at an America U-2 surveillance plane, flying at high altitude over Iraq. The spy plane was not hit but the missile exploded close enough to be felt by the plane's crew.
Over the past three years, Iraq has occasionally claimed to have hit an American or British plane, but this is the first incident to be confirmed.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments