Iran says it 'unintentionally' shot down Ukrainian jetliner

Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country ‘unintentionally’ shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard.

The statement came Saturday morning.

It blames “human error” for the shootdown.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had this to say on Twitter:

"A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of an internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at the time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations."

A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:

Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster

Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.
💔
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020

The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces in retaliation for the killing of its top general.

Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft.

But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft.