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Iranian Civilian Jet in Near-Miss With Warplanes in Syria Iranian Civilian Jet in Near-Miss With Warplanes in Syria
(about 2 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — An Iranian passenger plane on its way from Iran to Beirut swerved and dropped abruptly to avoid two fighter jets flying close by, injuring several passengers before landing in Beirut, Iranian and Lebanese television stations reported on Thursday evening. BEIRUT, Lebanon — An Iranian passenger plane en route from Iran to Beirut swerved and dropped abruptly to avoid two fighter jets, injuring several passengers before landing in Beirut, Iranian and Lebanese television stations reported on Thursday evening.
Videos broadcast by Iranian and pro-Iran Lebanese media, which said the footage was taken by passengers, showed one of the fighter jets flying alongside the passenger plane, operated by Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline.Videos broadcast by Iranian and pro-Iran Lebanese media, which said the footage was taken by passengers, showed one of the fighter jets flying alongside the passenger plane, operated by Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline.
Passengers then screamed as sudden turbulence seized the plane. In the aftermath, one video showed a passenger with his face and head bloodied, as well as a man lying down, apparently unconscious, while someone tended to him. Oxygen masks dangled overhead.Passengers then screamed as sudden turbulence seized the plane. In the aftermath, one video showed a passenger with his face and head bloodied, as well as a man lying down, apparently unconscious, while someone tended to him. Oxygen masks dangled overhead.
The television stations initially described the fighter jets as Israeli, but Iranian state television, citing an interview with the plane’s pilot, said the jets were American. An Israeli official denied any involvement in the near-miss, which took place in Syrian airspace. There was no immediate comment from American military officials. Lebanese media said an elderly passenger had been taken to a hospital affiliated with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militia and political party. Lebanese civil aviation authorities said the plane had been carrying 150 passengers, some of whom suffered minor injuries.
The television stations initially described the fighter jets as Israeli, but Iranian state television, citing an interview with the plane’s pilot, later said the jets were American. An Israeli official denied any involvement in the near-miss, which took place in Syrian airspace. There was no immediate comment from American military officials.
A person in Syria who was briefed by Iranian and Hezbollah officials said the warplanes had intercepted the passenger jet over Al-Tanf, the site of a small American military base in southern Syria. This person, who is close to the alliance between Iran, Hezbollah and Syria and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the fighter jets were believed to belong to the American-led international coalition that has been fighting the Islamic State in Syria.A person in Syria who was briefed by Iranian and Hezbollah officials said the warplanes had intercepted the passenger jet over Al-Tanf, the site of a small American military base in southern Syria. This person, who is close to the alliance between Iran, Hezbollah and Syria and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the fighter jets were believed to belong to the American-led international coalition that has been fighting the Islamic State in Syria.
The American base at Al-Tanf, which sits near Syria’s border with Jordan and Iraq, is strategically located to block Iran from controlling a land route through Iraq to Syria and Lebanon. The American base at Al-Tanf, which sits near southern Syria’s border with Jordan and Iraq, is strategically located to block Iran from controlling a land route through Iraq to Syria and Lebanon.
The U.S.-led coalition still flies combat air patrols over northeastern Syria to support about 500 American troops who carry out missions with Syrian Kurdish allies on the ground to counter pockets of Islamic State fighters.The U.S.-led coalition still flies combat air patrols over northeastern Syria to support about 500 American troops who carry out missions with Syrian Kurdish allies on the ground to counter pockets of Islamic State fighters.
American fighter jets also fly daily patrols near the Al-Tanf base, where 150 to 200 U.S. troops train Syrian counter-ISIS fighters known as Maghawir al Thawra.
American fighter jets also fly daily patrols near the Al-Tanf base, in southern Syria, where 150 to 200 U.S. troops train Syrian counter-ISIS fighters known as Maghawir al Thawra.
In May 2017, American warplanes attacked a pro-Syrian government convoy that ignored warnings and violated a restricted zone around the base. In recent months, the American-backed Syrian forces have skirmished with roving bands of suspected Islamic State fighters near the base.In May 2017, American warplanes attacked a pro-Syrian government convoy that ignored warnings and violated a restricted zone around the base. In recent months, the American-backed Syrian forces have skirmished with roving bands of suspected Islamic State fighters near the base.
Iran is already on edge after a series of mysterious explosions and violent attacks against its civilian and military infrastructure, including at a nuclear fuel enrichment complex in early July. The Mahan Air encounter came as Iran was already on edge after a series of mysterious explosions and violent attacks against its civilian and military infrastructure, including at a nuclear fuel enrichment complex in early July. Iranian officials have attributed some of the recent attacks to sabotage, though they have not said whether they suspect Israel or the United States.
The Mahan airlines encounter, if confirmed to be with American warplanes, could amplify tensions between Iran and the United States, which is pursuing a hard-nosed campaign of sanctions and other actions against Iran. If the encounter is confirmed to have been with American warplanes, that could amplify tensions between Iran and the United States, which is pursuing a hard-nosed campaign of sanctions and other actions against Iran that the Trump administration calls a “maximum pressure” strategy.
Iranian officials have attributed some of the recent attacks to sabotage, though they have not said whether they suspect Israel or the United States. Abbas Mousavi, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said Iran had contacted the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which protects American interests in Iran, to warn that the United States would be held accountable if anything happened to the Mahan Air flight, which later left Beirut empty to return to Iran.
Lebanese media said an elderly passenger had been taken to a hospital affiliated with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militia and political party. Lebanese civil aviation authorities said the plane had been carrying 150 passengers, some of whom suffered minor injuries. Mr. Mousavi said Iran’s mission to the United Nations had also conveyed this message to the United Nations secretary general, António Guterres.
Vivian Yee reported from Beirut and Farnaz Fassihi from New York. Reporting was contributed by Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Eric Schmitt from Washington and Ronen Bergman from Tel Aviv, Israel. “We are investigating the details of this incident and after information is complete we will take necessary legal and political measures,” Mr. Mousavi said.
A number of analysts said the Mahan Air episode appeared to fit a pattern of recent efforts to unnerve and destabilize Iran.
“The timing of this incident is revealing,” said Nader Hashemi, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver. “I read this as a clear attempt to draw Iran into a war.”
It remained far from clear, however, whether the warplane action was deliberate.
While Iran and the United States have many longstanding grievances, for Iran one of the most potent remains the 1988 shootdown of an Iranian passenger plane by the Vincennes, an American warship that had been patrolling in the Persian Gulf.
The plane, Iran Air Flight 655, carried 290 people. The United States later called it “a tragic and regrettable accident,” and subsequently paid millions to settle a lawsuit that Iran filed at the International Court of Justice.
Vivian Yee reported from Beirut and Farnaz Fassihi from New York. Reporting was contributed by Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Eric Schmitt from Washington, and Ronen Bergman from Tel Aviv, Israel.