U.S. F-16 shoots down Turkish drone flying over American troops in Syria

[Eugene]

Source: Politico

U.S. F-16 shoots down Turkish drone flying over American troops in Syria

The drone, which belonged to the Turkish government, was armed with air-to-ground missiles and deemed a threat to the American troops and Syrian Democratic Forces at the Tal Baydar base.

By LARA SELIGMAN
10/05/2023 01:20 PM EDT
Updated: 10/05/2023 01:55 PM EDT

A U.S. F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone that was flying over a base in northeast Syria where American forces are located, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The drone, which belonged to the Turkish government, was armed with air-to-ground missiles and deemed a threat to the American troops and Syrian Democratic Forces at the Tal Baydar base, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.

The uncrewed aerial vehicle was a Bayraktar TB2, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone built by Turkish defense company Baykar for use primarily by the Turkish armed forces, the person said. The Turkish defense ministry reportedly denied it owned the drone.

Turkey has recently stepped up attacks on Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria after Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday. Turkey views the Syrian Democratic Forces as a wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which numerous nations have designated a terrorist organization.

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Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/05/u-s-f-16-shoots-down-turkish-drone-flying-over-u-s-forces-in-syria-00120166

[orangecrush]

1. But Turkey is our ally!