US Military: Approach to Iranian Plane Was to Ensure Security of Its Forces

The US military, while confirming an encounter between one of its fighter jets and a Mahan aircraft in Syrian airspace, said this action was to ensure the security of its forces. Iran announced it will file a complaint with the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General.

A spokesman for the US Central Command headquarters in the Middle East confirmed that a US military fighter jet intercepted a Mahan airline passenger aircraft Thursday evening (July 23) in Syrian airspace.

According to the US military spokesman, the Mahan aircraft had come too close to the Tanf military base where US forces are stationed.

According to Reuters news agency, Captain Bill Urban said that after the Mahan airline passenger aircraft passed near the Tanf military base, a US F-15 jet flew toward it and conducted an identification operation.

He said that in the said operation, all safety protocols were observed and the American fighter jet maintained the required distance from the Iranian aircraft and did not approach closer than approximately one thousand meters from the aircraft.

The US military official added that the F-15 fighter jet moved away from the Iranian aircraft after confirming that it was a normal passenger aircraft.

Possibility of Iran Filing a Complaint

Iranian media initially reported Thursday evening that two Israeli fighter jets had approached the Mahan aircraft en route to Beirut, but hours later the Iranian flight pilot said the fighters were American.

The Mahan airline passenger aircraft on Flight 1152 from Tehran to Beirut was forced to descend when the American fighter approached, and only after an emergency landing in Damascus did it resume its flight and land at Beirut airport.

It is reported that due to the sudden descent of the aircraft, several passengers were injured, with three of them transported to the hospital.

Abbas Mousavi, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said: “The details of this incident are under investigation and after completing the information, the necessary political and legal measures will be taken.”

Also, the Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, wrote that Iran will soon convey its protest against this “dangerous” incident to the United Nations through a letter.

According to the news agency, Iran’s letter will be sent to the UN Secretary-General and the UN Security Council to be registered as a document in that international organization.

Source: DW