The US military declared on Tuesday it had brought down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) believed to have been manufactured in Iran. According to the military, the drone was conducting surveillance over an oil facility in northeastern Syria.
US Military Shoots Down Suspected Iranian Drone in Syria
The drone was shot down at approximately 2:30 PM local time, as reported by US Central Command.
In a statement, US Central Command said US forces in Syria engaged and brought down the Iranian-made drone attempting to gather intelligence on Mission Support Site Conoco, a patrol base located in northeastern Syria.
The United States and Iran both undertake counterterrorism operations within the borders of Syria, despite their support for opposing factions.
The US provides support to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led organization that governs the autonomous region in northeastern Syria, while Iran aligns with the central government in Damascus.
U.S. Forces reportedly shot down an Iranian-Manufactured Drone that was conducting surveillance on Mission Support Site Conoco in Northeastern Syria today. pic.twitter.com/dnKcVXs8Iy
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 15, 2023
Iran, Russia, and Syria have charged the United States with exploiting Syria’s natural resources via an illegitimate military presence.
Conversely, the US alleges that Iran has been seeking to increase its hold in Syria by supporting militias that have launched attacks on US forces in the past.
Additionally, the US has expressed concerns regarding Iran’s drone program, particularly in light of the look of Iranian-made loitering munitions in Russia’s enduring battle with Ukraine.
Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine Strains Defense Industries
Iran has recently experienced drone attacks on its own territory, including one carried out last month that was suspected to have been conducted by quadcopters.
The Islamic Republic has accused Israel of being responsible for the attack and announced the capture of individuals implicated in the operation on Friday.
It is possible that Iran may have unwittingly supplied the Ukrainian military with thousands of assault rifles and a large amount of ammunition, following the seizure of these weapons by the US Navy from suspected smuggling vessels in the Middle East.
The US is considering the possibility of handing over thousands of confiscated weapons and over a million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, writes Wall Street Journal.
It was once intended for Iran-backed militants in Yemen. https://t.co/7Mk2vNjodm
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) February 14, 2023
The US Armed Forces are considering sending weapons, including 5,000 assault rifles, 1.6 million rounds of ammunition, several anti-tank missiles, and over 7,000 proximity fuses to Ukraine after confiscating them.
The weapons were seized in the Gulf of Oman. The potential new supply of military assistance arrives as the western allies of Ukraine raise concerns about the depletion of ammunition. This information was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The situation in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict put a strain on the defense industries, as the consumption of ammunition skyrocketed and depleted the existing stockpiles, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
In light of this, the US military is weighing the option of sending weapons it recently confiscated from suspected smuggling ships in the Gulf of Oman, including 5,000 rifles and over 7,000 proximity fuses, to aid the Ukrainian war effort.
However, this raises questions about the supply chain of weapons and the potential involvement of other nations.
