IRGC Deputy Commander: Capturing US drone, Heavy Blow To US

Ghazvin, Dec 6, IRNA - Deputy Commander of IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General Abdollah Araghi said on Wednesday that the capture of US ScanEagle drone dealt a heavy blow to the US. Addressing a group of military personnel in a morning flag hoisting ceremony, he said the event is regarded as a heavy blow to US hegemony. Iran on Tuesday announced that it had captured a US intelligence ScanEagle drone when it strayed into Iranian airspace over Persian Gulf territorial waters. This was happened simultaneously with anniversary of downing of another US unmanned drone RQ 170, showing vigilance of Iranian forces in monitoring the slightest movements of the enemies, he said. Iranian forces will give a timely response to the enemies' movements, underlined the commander. During the eight-year sacred defense, the Islamic Republic of Iran bravely stood up to the US, former Soviet Union and Europe with its least facilities and now it has become more powerful in dealing with enemies' intervention and can give them crushing response, he said. The ScanEagle drone can fly pre-programed or operator-run missions guided by navigation satellites and its on-board flight control system./end