{"id":17900,"date":"2019-12-10T16:12:26","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T16:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/10\/africom-demands-return-of-us-drone-shot-down-by-russian-air-defenses-over-libya\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:56:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:56:26","slug":"africom-demands-return-of-us-drone-shot-down-by-russian-air-defenses-over-libya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/12\/10\/africom-demands-return-of-us-drone-shot-down-by-russian-air-defenses-over-libya\/","title":{"rendered":"AFRICOM demands return of US drone shot down by Russian air defenses over Libya"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. military believes one of its drones lost near Libya\u2019s capital Tripoli on Nov. 21 was brought down by Russian air defenses, according U.S. Africa Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Force Col. Christopher Karns, a spokesman for AFRICOM , told Military Times that the U.S. believes the remotely piloted aircraft may have been brought down by Russian mercenaries or troops with Khalifa Hifter\u2019s Libyan National Army operating a Russian air defense system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. is working various diplomatic channels as it seeks return of the downed drone, Karns said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commander of AFRICOM, U.S. Army General Stephen Townsend told Reuters<\/a> that he believes the individuals who shot down the drone \u201cdidn\u2019t know it was a U.S. remotely piloted aircraft when they fired on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t