Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Iranian-origin unmanned aerial vehicles have been seen
flying over Syria.

Witnesses and opposition web sites have reported the sighting of
unidentified Iranian UAVs over Damascus and Homs.

The reports included images of UAVs over major Syrian cities as part of what was termed counter-insurgency operations.

The Open Source GEOINT web site said the UAV could be the Iranian-origin Mohajer-4. In 2006, Iran and Syria signed a defense industry agreement, and in 2010 Iran unveiled its Pahpad UAV.

The U.S. State Department has determined that Syria was producing UAVs or major components.

A department memorandum released by WikiLeaks in 2009 reported that a Syrian company was seeking engines, propellers and radio equipment.

UAV sightings over Syria have been reported since February,
including Damascus.

Most of the UAVs were believed to have been produced in Iran, said to have also supplied surveillance, sniper rifles, munitions and riot control equipment.

Other UAVs in Syria are said to have been supplied by Russia.

The opposition also reported sightings of U.S. unmanned aerial platforms over Syria.

  Damascus, Homs, Mohajer-4 UAV, Open Source GEOINT web site, Pahpad UAV, Syrian opposition reports sightings of Iran drones