war, the u.s. and russia have had confrontations at air and sea. these incounters have only rarely blown up into serious incidents. that s because at least to some extent there are routines that are followed, less so for russia, everyone involved acts professionally. that was not the case today. an american reaper drone was intercepted by two russian fighters. it was damaged and then forced down. somebody could have gotten hurt. nobody wants to see that happen. and it could lead to miscalculations between two militaries that are operating not obviously in ukraine together, but certainly in proximity in the region. we don t want to see this war escalate beyond what it has already done to the ukrainian people, so this is clearly, this was inappropriate, unsafe, unprofessional conduct by the russian pilots. russia s ambassador to washington was summoned to the state department. we ll also get perspective from mark hertling, but oren liebermann joins us from the pentagon. r
russian fighters who damaged it and was then forced down. somebody could ve gotten hurt. nobody wants to see that happen. and it could lead to miscalculations between two militaries that are operating not obviously in ukraine together, but in proximity in the region. we don t want to see this war escalate beyond what it is already done to the ukrainian people. so this is clearly, it was an appropriate, unsafe, unprofessional conduct by the russian. pilots russians ambassador to washington was summoned to the state department. we ll have more on that shortly. also get a perspective from retired three star general mark hertling. but the latest on the incident rob leaning joins us from the panic. is it clear what happened? this all plays out early tuesday morning over international borders over the black sea, when u.s. air force reaper drone is doing what it has done countless times before. not only the during the war, but before the war, that is surveilling the black sea
get hurt. i ll never forget him saying that. that s directly from the mouth of an ex-f-16 pilot. this is unfolding as russa continues to bombard ukraine from the air, targeting civilian areas. let s go to eastern ukraine with ivan watson. i m wondering if there is other reaction from this incident in russia? reporter: first, it was the defense ministry that confirmed this incident did in fact take place. and i ll repeat some of their arguments. they are saying, that is moscow, that the reaper, this unmanned aerial vehicle, was approaching crimea with its transponder off. and that the two russian jets were then scrambled. again, the russian defense ministry insisting that no weapons were used against the drone and that there was no contact whatsoever.
ambassador from russia. one of there s any other information getting? well, first it was the defense ministry the confirmed that this incident did in fact take place. i ll repeat some of their arguments. they are saying, that is moscow, that the reaper this drone was approaching crimea with its transponder off. the two russian jets were then scrambled. again the russian defense ministry insisting that no weapons were used against the drone and that there was no contact whatsoever. there s a direct contradiction with which the pentagon is saying has taken place there. i also found it interesting that the russian ambassador specifically said that russia does not what confrontation with the u.s.. he did use some diplomatic
then circled around. it had its transponder off. it violated iranian air space and gave coordinates for where he said the drone was shot down. we looked up those coordinates. that would put it about 9 miles off the iranian coast. again, the u.s. has a very different view of where that drone was shot down. the iranians for their part, however this is coming from the military, the revolutionary guard which is the unit that shot that drone down they re saying this is definitely a clear message to the united states that if you infringe upon iran s air space, this is what s going to happen. the iranians are saying this is a red line. and anderson, the top commander of the revolutionary guard, he came out earlier today, shortly after the drone was shot down and said iran does not want any sort of war with the united states, but at the same time, they re also saying that iran is prepared for a war with the united states. and one of the things that senior revolutionary guard former command