Rebel Forces Capture US Spy Plane

[unhappycamper]

Rebel Forces Capture US Spy Plane
November 15, 2008
BBC

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Philippine Muslim rebels recently shot down a US spy drone flying inside their territory in the restive southern region of Mindanao, where American forces are aiding local troops in fighting separatist and communist insurgents.

Mohagher Iqbal, a senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), on Friday said that the drone had been captured by rebel forces in the hinterlands of Talayan town in Maguindanao province.

He added that the spy plane was shot down on the night of October 31. Iqbal said the rebels recovered the plane on November 1 and the MILF leadership announced the capture of the drone on the same day.

Iqbal did not say whether the drone was armed or had a thermal and infrared video camera, only that the aircraft had a wing span of eight feet. He said the rebels had fired at the drone with automatic weapons.

"The spy plane is still in good condition and intact and we will not give it back to the US military. It is now the property of the MILF," Iqbal told The Manila Times.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/rebel-forces-capture-us-spy-plane.html?col=1186032310810

[dipsydoodle]

1. They might have given some prior consideration

to their name given the acronym MILF :rofl: