Iran says it downed US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island
Iranian air defenses destroyed a US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported on Friday.There was no immediate confirmation from the United States.The claim follows an explosion believed to have been caused by a missile attack on an oil products tanker in the Gulf earlier on Thursday, killing one seafarer, the ship's manager said on Friday.The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire was sailing unladen towards Bahrain when it was hit, Greek management firm Velos Tankers said in a statement."
The company is greatly saddened to report the death of one of its seafarers, who was found fatally injured on board after having initially been reported missing in the aftermath of the explosion," it said.No other injuries, fire on ship extinguishedNo other crew members were injured; the crew extinguished a fire on the ship caused by the explosion, and Velos Tankers added that there were no reports of pollution.
The vessel was taken to Bahrain's Khalifa Bin Salman Port, and an investigation will be launched. Authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage to the vessel's hull.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says that US drones are flying over Qeshm amid the war that began with the US-Israeli offensive against Iran on 28 February, a fact this outlet itself reported the day before. Without it a reader sees an isolated shootdown claim with no sign that the United States is at war with Iran.
How we know
- Anadolu Agency (English) reported“following the US-Israeli offensive against Iran that began on Feb. 28”Iran claims it shot down US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island (opens in a new tab)
- The Jerusalem Post wrote earlier“The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28”Iran sent nuclear proposal to the US via Qatar, senior Iranian official tells Reuters (opens in a new tab)