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US-Iran clash has killed 466 unsuspecting persons in two aircrafts, “by mistake”
Iran admits it unintentionally shot down airline, killing 176 persons

After series of denial, Iran has admitted its missiles shot down a Ukrainian aircraft carrying about 176 persons. This would make it the second time a US-Iran clash is leading to the shooting down of a civilian aircraft. In July 1988, the United States shot down an Iranian passenger flight carrying 290 people. While the US called it a mistake on the part of the Iranian crew, Iran insisted it was on purpose and described it as an international crime at the very least.

On the third day of January, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a US strike near Baghdad International Airport, along with senior leaders of the Iraqi Shia militia. Iran promised to retaliate. Hours before its planned retaliation, a Ukrainian passenger jet crashed near its capital, Tehran. Western leaders began suggesting Iran shot down the plane in error, but Iran denied and an international investigation started. Before the results of this were out, Iran admits through its State TV that it indeed unintentionally shot down the airplane.

Killing innocents, a tale of two clash

In 1988, a United States Warship shot down Iranian Air Flight 655 killing 290 persons on board. The US said it “regretted” the deaths but quickly added that it was a “proper defensive action” as it claims the flight “failed to heed repeated warnings”. Its defence department concluded a month later that “Iran must share the responsibility for the tragedy” for allowing a civilian aircraft to fly near ongoing hostilities, and that it was “not the result of any negligent or culpable conduct by any U.S. Naval personnel associated with the incident.”

Iran on its part insisted the US shot down the plane on purpose. It said the cruiser’s advanced Aegis radar correctly tracked the flight and its Mode III beacon. It said two other U.S. warships in the area, Sides, and Montgomery, also identified the aircraft as civilian; and the flight was well within a recognized international air corridor. The flight data was also not found, which escalated the accusation that the US government covered details of the shooting.

In 1992, a Newsweek report claimed that Captain William C. Rogers III behaved recklessly without due care. Commander David Carlson, commanding officer of USS Sides, the warship stationed nearest to Vincennes at the time of the incident also blamed the Captain. Another analysis by the International Strategic Studies Association submitted that the deployment of an Aegis cruiser in the region was irresponsible. It also accused the US Navy of a low threshold for opening fire. While the Naval said it was not on Iranian Waters, Admiral William James Crowe Jr. who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said three years later, that the US was indeed on Iranian waters when it fired the shot.

While the US and Iran disputed the facts of the 1988 shooting, neither the US nor Ukraine accuse Iran of purposely shooting down the 2019 plane. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says,

“Even before the International Commission could finish its work, Iran admitted to shooting down the Ukrainian plane. But we insist on a full admission of guilt. We expect Iran to conduct a full and open investigation, bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies of the deceased, pay compensation and issue official apologies through diplomatic channels. We hope that the investigation will continue without artificial delays and obstacles.”

Unlikely escalation

Iran’s admittance comes just when both the US and Iran are speaking of peace. But fears that this would escalate the crisis do not appear to be based on any history, as the 1988 incident did not escalate the crisis. Also, while the 1988 incident was an Iranian Flight with 82% of Iranians as victims, the 2019 incident was a Ukrainian Flight with no Americans onboard and 6% of the victims were Ukrainians. Even more, close to half of the people who died in this crash were Iranians. Iran took the highest casualty.

The 1988 incident was settled out of Court after Iran sued the US. The United States did not accept liability but “expressed deep regret over the loss of lives” and agreed to pay $61.8 million to the victims’ families.

So far, Iran has apologized immediately after finding out the fault is from them.

“A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster,” Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said.

The Iranian Government had earlier said it will not work with Boeing or the US in its investigation but reversed this position on Friday.

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