US Says Downs Turkish Drone in Syria Amid Rising Tensions over Kurdish Militias
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that the United States had shot down an armed Turkish drone operating in close proximity to American troops in Syria.
This marks the first time the US has taken such action against a NATO ally, Turkey.
A Turkish defense ministry official stated that the downed drone did not belong to the Turkish armed forces but did not specify its ownership.
This incident occurred amidst a series of Turkish strikes on Kurdish militant targets in northeastern Syria, which resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals.
Following a bomb attack in Ankara, Turkey's National Intelligence Agency conducted strikes against Kurdish militant targets in Syria, according to a Turkish security source.
On Thursday night, Turkish military airstrikes reportedly destroyed 30 Kurdish militant targets in northern Syria, including an oil well, storage facility, and shelters. The Turkish defense ministry said to have "neutralized" many militants in the process.
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder claimed that Turkish drones had been observed carrying out airstrikes in Hasakah, Syria, approximately 1 km away from US troops. Later, a Turkish drone approached within less than half a kilometer (0.3 miles) of US troops, prompting its downing by F-16 aircraft.
Ryder emphasized, "We have no indication that Turkey was intentionally targeting US forces."
Hasakah, in northeastern Syria, is home to the primarily US-allied Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin engaged in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, which Ryder described as "fruitful." During the call, the Turkish Defense Ministry indicated Turkey's readiness to cooperate with the US against Daesh (ISIS or ISIL).
US-Turkish relations currently face challenges, with the US seeking Turkey's support for Sweden's NATO membership. While the US has not previously shot down a Turkish aircraft, tensions have periodically escalated, including instances of close calls. In 2019, US troops in northern Syria were subjected to artillery fire from Turkish positions.
The ongoing support of US Kurdish allies in northern Syria has long been a point of contention with Turkey, which views them as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK claimed responsibility for a recent bomb attack in Ankara.
A Turkish defense ministry official indicated that a ground operation into Syria was among the options Turkey could consider, emphasizing the goal of eliminating terrorist organizations threatening Turkey. Turkey has previously conducted incursions into northern Syria against the Syrian Kurdish YPG group.
Security forces in northeastern Syria reported multiple Turkish drone attacks on Thursday, resulting in casualties, infrastructure damage, and hits on gas and oil stations. Kurdish militants later launched a rocket attack on a Turkish military base in northern Syria, wounding several officers.
Turkey has escalated its operations against the PKK by conducting airstrikes in northern Iraq, targeting infrastructure and energy facilities controlled by the PKK and YPG. Turkish officials declared these entities as legitimate military targets.
The Turkish government issued a warning to third countries, urging them to steer clear of areas controlled by the PKK and YPG. The defense ministry official conveyed that the responsibility for taking necessary precautions lay with these parties, without specifying any particular nations.