A US military surveillance drone has been shot down by Iranian forces while flying
over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the aircraft had violated
Iranian airspace, and that the incident sent a "clear message to
America".
But the US military insisted the drone had been over
international waters at the time, and condemned what it called an
"unprovoked attack" by the IRGC.
It comes at a time of escalating tension between the US and Iran.
On
Monday, the US defence department said it was deploying 1,000 extra
troops to the region in response to "hostile behaviour" by Iranian
forces. It has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52
bombers.
The US has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers
with mines last Thursday just outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf
of Oman. Iran rejects the allegation.
It was the second time in a month tankers had been attacked close in
the region, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes each day.
Tensions
were further fuelled on Monday when Iran announced its stockpile of
low-enriched uranium would next week exceed limits it agreed with world
powers under a landmark nuclear deal in 2015.
BBC.
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