US military aircraft, surveillance drone operating over Persian Gulf

At least six U.S. military aircraft and a surveillance drone are operating over the Persian Gulf, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Wednesday (July 8), citing a source in Middle Eastern air traffic control services.

According to the source, at least six heavy U.S. military aircraft were circling over international waters in the Gulf, with three flying close to the boundary of the Iranian-controlled airspace monitored by local air traffic controllers.

The aircraft were identified as Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker and Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tankers.

The source said they were flying at altitudes of up to 8,000 metres, including along air corridors normally used by civilian aircraft.

The source also said a Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drone had begun operating over international waters in the Gulf after arriving from a U.S. military base in the region.

The MQ-4C Triton is capable of providing real-time intelligence and conducting surveillance over large areas of land and sea, the source added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev