U.S. Navy shoots down Iranian drone

A Navy Super Hornet receives fuel from an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan, Dec. 7, 2017. Navy Super Hornets conducted a series of precision airstrikes against six Taliban narcotic targets in Helmand province. Air Force photo by Jeff Parkinson

President Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. Navy shot down a threatening Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz.

The defensive action, he said, came after drone operators refused to "stand down."

The aircraft then was "immediately destroyed," the president said.

The drone had come with 1,000 yards of the USS Boxer and was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew," the president said.

"This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions against vessels operating in international waters," the president said.

Reuters reported an Iranian official said Thursday he didn't know anything about a lost drone.

Trump said the U.S. "reserves the right to defend our personnel, our facilities, our interests, and calls upon all nations to condemn Iran's attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation and global commerce."

About a third of the world's ship-borne oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz, which separates the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Iran this week took over a foreign oil tanker after charging that its 12 crew members were smuggling.

And last month, Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a U.S. surveillance drone that was over international waters.

President Trump, at that time, confirmed the U.S. was "cocked and loaded" to retaliate. But the next day he explained he called off an attack after being told that some 150 people could die.

NBC News reported: "Pressure in the region has been building since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposed punishing sanctions on the country. The administration has also designated the Revolutionary Guard a foreign terrorist organization. Last month, Trump signed an executive order putting in place new sanctions."

WND reported at the time the Iranians shot down the U.S. drone that MSNBC's Chris Hayes raised concerns that Trump would launch a strike during the "2020 debate" for Democratic presidential candidates.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes says he fears Trump will launch military strike during 2020 debate https://t.co/iTIzUTQKs8 pic.twitter.com/Xqh0XuyX9x

— The Hill (@thehill) June 26, 2019