The missile missed the drone and fell into the water, the official said. Prior to taking fire, the American MQ-9 drone observed Iranian vessels closing in on the tankers, the official added, though the source did not say whether the unmanned aircraft saw the boats conducting an actual attack. Still, it is the first claim that the US has information of Iranian movements prior to the attack. The same official also said in the days prior to the attack, a US reaper drone was shot down in the Red Sea by what is believed to be an Iranian missile fired by Houthi rebels. The attack could provide more fodder for Iran hawks within the US administration, whose recent Iran saber-rattling has frustrated Trump.

Source: CNN June 14, 2019 20:30 UTC