On Saturday, January 11, Iran announced that military forces «inadvertently» shot down a Ukrainian airliner, and blamed the «adventurism of the United States» fatal «mistake.»
In a statement published in state media, said that the military took the plane over an enemy target and «unintentionally» fired at the plane, killing 176 people on Board.
The plane «took flight position and altitude of enemy targets» when he approached the base of the IRGC, and the soldiers did not recognize his passenger airliner, said in a statement.
«In such circumstances due to human error [the plane] came under attack,» said Iran.
The military were at «the highest level of readiness» in the context of heightened tensions in relations with the United States, said in a statement.
US officials: ‘Highly likely’ Iran downed Ukrainian jetliner https://t.co/5ry6JAKCAp pic.twitter.com/Bog9xbTV9o
— Military Times (@MilitaryTimes) On January 9, 2020
Iran apologized for the incident and said that they will update their system to prevent future tragedies. According to the statement, the perpetrators of the attack on the aircraft will be prosecuted according to law.
In turn, the Minister of foreign Affairs of Iran Javad Zarif said that the crash blame «the adventurism of the United States.»
«We deeply regret, apologize and sympathy to our people, to the families of all victims and other affected countries», — said the Minister.
Note that the tragedy happened a week after an American drone killed Iranian General Kassem Suleimani in Iraq. The deceased was a national icon, and hundreds of thousands of Iranians staged a funeral procession in his honor throughout the country.
Says US satellites detected apparent missile launches prior to Ukrainian jetliner crash, indicating Iran accidentally shot it down. Not surprising given the close timing to Iran missile strikes, refusal to give up the black box, manner of crash, etc.—signs all pointing in that direction. pic.twitter.com/vPfhqpZKpC
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) January 9, 2020
The aircraft of the airline «Ukraine International Airlines», which flew to Kiev, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members. Among them were 82 Iranian, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians.
