USA Shoots Down Turkish Drone In Syria

The drone came too close to the positions of US troops.

On October 5, U.S. F-16 fighter jets detected and destroyed a Turkish drone that came too close to U.S. troops stationed in Hasakah, Syria. The case represents the first incident in which the U.S. military attacked an air vehicle of a NATO ally.

This was reported by the Reuters news outlet. According to the report, the drone was dropping bombs on nearby targets, and although it was not aiming at U.S. troops, it was close enough to present a danger to U.S. forces.

"There is no indication that Turkey intentionally targeted U.S. forces," U.S. Defence Department spokesman Patrick Ryder told reporters.

Turkey's defence ministry said the downed drone did not belong to the Turkish armed forces, but did not say who owns the drone that was destroyed.

After the incident, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to his Turkish counterpart. According to Ryder, that conversation was "fruitful".

Both countries are members of NATO.

The incident occurred, as Reuters notes, at a sensitive time for relations between Turkey and the US. Washington hopes Turkey will ratify the agreement for Sweden to join NATO.