Armed drone
For the first time, the US fighter jet shot down an armed drone of a NATO ally, Turkiye on Thursday. The Pentagon reported that the United States had intercepted an armed Turkish drone operating in close proximity to its troops in Syria. This marked the first instance of Washington taking down an aircraft belonging to its NATO ally, Turkiye.
A Turkish defense ministry official mentioned that the downed drone was not affiliated with the Turkish armed forces.
Following a recent bomb attack in Ankara, Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency conducted strikes against Kurdish militant targets in Syria.
On Thursday night, Turkish military airstrikes targeted 30 Kurdish militant sites in northern Syria, including an oil well, storage facility, and shelters. It led to killing of several militants, as announced by the Turkish defense ministry.
Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder noted that Turkish drones had been observed conducting airstrikes near US troops in Hasakah, Syria. Later in the day, a Turkish drone approached within half a kilometer (0.3 miles) of US troops. It posed a threat and prompting F-16 aircraft to intercept and down it.
Ryder clarified, “We have no indication that Turkey was intentionally targeting U.S. forces.”
Hasakah, located in northeastern Syria, is primarily defended by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). It is a key ally of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, Daesh.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a productive conversation with his Turkish counterpart, with Ryder confirming that the two discussed joint efforts against Daesh.
The Turkish Defense Ministry stated that Minister Yasar Guler had conveyed Turkey’s readiness to collaborate with the USA in countering Daesh to Austin. They emphasized the importance of close coordination between US and Turkish elements in the region’s activities.
US-Turkish relations are currently sensitive, with the United States seeking Turkish support for Sweden’s NATO membership.
