Iranian state-run television has aired footage it claims was extracted from a CIA drone its military supposedly downed and captured on Dec. 4, 2011, near Kashmar, about 140 miles from the border with Afghanistan.
The footage is black and white, and supposedly gives an aerial view of an airport and city, according to The Associated Press. A man identified by television broadcasters as Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh narrates, CNN reports: “This aircraft has carried out many operations in the countries around Iran. In the operations taken place in Pakistan, this aircraft guided many of the clashes.”
Iran has claimed for months it can now construct its own version of the U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel drone. U.S. officials acknowledged in 2011 that the drone was missing, but balked at confirming Iran’s versions of the events. U.S. officials said the drone malfunctioned and was forced to land, and that’s how Iran captured it, AP reported. Iran said it “took control of the drone and landed it,” AP reported.
Either way, CNN reported, President Obama asked Iran to return it.
“We’ve asked for it back,” Mr. Obama said in December 2011, according to CNN. “We’ll see how the Iranians respond.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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