US Fighter Jet(s) Harassed an Iranian Airliner

A US fighter jet harassed an Iranian passenger plane en route from Iran to Beirut over the Syrian air space on Thursday. American fighter jets came dangerously close to the airliner. To avoid collision and possible threats, the Iranian passenger plane abruptly dived. The sudden move resulted in some injuries on board. CENTCOM claimed that a single F-15 had made a “visual inspection“ of the Iranian airliner “under international standards... to ensure the safety of coalition personnel“ at the military base in al-Tanf. It added that the F-15 conducted “a standard visual inspection of a Mahan Air passenger airliner at a safe distance of approximately 1,000 meters.“ Iran dismissed the US explanation as “unjustified and unconvincing.“ “The harassment of a passenger plane on the territory of a third country is a clear violation of aviation security and freedom of civilian aircraft,“ Laya Joneydi, vice president for legal affairs, announced.