The Pentagon reported that the US military shot down an armed Turkish drone that was operating perilously close to its troops stationed in Syria. This marks a notable first, as Washington has never previously targeted an aircraft belonging to its NATO ally, Turkey.
Pentagon spokesman, Brigadier General Pat Ryder, detailed that on Thursday morning, Turkish drones had been spotted conducting airstrikes in Syria’s Hasakah region. These operations took place within an American “restricted operating zone,” which was roughly 1km from the US troops’ location. As the situation evolved, another Turkish drone re-entered this zone, moving in a trajectory directly towards the US forces. As it approached within 500m of the US troops, the drone was perceived as a threat and subsequently shot down by an F-16 aircraft.
Brigadier General Ryder termed the event a “regrettable incident,” highlighting that the proximity of the Turkish bombings forced US troops to seek shelter in bunkers. Thankfully, no US personnel were injured.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reportedly had a constructive discussion with his Turkish counterpart in the aftermath of this incident. Emphasizing the need for safety, Brigadier General Ryder stated, “The decision was made out of due diligence and the inherent right of self-defense to take appropriate action to protect US forces.” He also clarified that there’s no evidence suggesting Turkey’s intent was to target US forces.
However, the relationship between the US and Turkey has seen its share of tensions. In 2019, US troops in northern Syria were subjected to artillery fire originating from Turkish positions. The primary point of contention has been the US’s ongoing support for Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Turkey perceives these forces as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – a group that recently claimed responsibility for a bombing in Turkey’s capital. This latest incident further complicates the matter, especially considering Turkey’s recent airstrikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq.