Pentagon: U.S. drone crashed in Iraq

WASHINGTON, July 21 (UPI) -- An MQ-1 drone crashed in southeastern Iraq after losing communication last week, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

Defense Department spokesman Army Maj. Roger Cabiness confirmed the news in a statement to The Hill after photos of the downed aircraft surfaced on Twitter accounts based out of Iraq.

He said the drone was returning to its base after an intelligence mission when it had "technical complications."

"There were no weapons on board the aircraft. We are working with Iraqi authorities to recover the aircraft," Cabiness said in a statement. 

Earlier in the day, at least two Twitter users posted photos of the drone reportedly in the Iraqi town of Samawa, about 200 miles south of Baghdad.