Americans attacked a NATO ally. Turkish drone shot down over Syria
The Pentagon confirmed the shooting down of a Turkish drone over Syria. The machine was said to be close to the location of American troops, as a result of which it was shot down by an F-16. The loss of the unmanned vehicle was also confirmed by Turkey, noting that it was not a machine belonging to the Turkish army.
The attack on the Turkish drone took place in northeastern Syria. According to Americans, the armed Turkish machine had previously attacked targets in the city of Al-Hasaka.
The attacks were part of a Turkish operation, aimed at Kurdish fighters after a bombing attack that occurred in Ankara. As the Americans report, a Turkish drone twice violated the safety zone they designated, the second time coming about 0.31 miles from the stationing location of American troops.
Because he continued to fly in their direction, he was shot down by an F-16 plane operating - according to the American side - "in self-defense".
As reported by the Defence24, the decision to shoot down was preceded by multiple contacts with the Turkish side. Americans informed Turks about the presence of the drone in the area of operations and warned that they will take measures to ensure the safety of their own soldiers.
Shooting down of the Turkish drone
Importantly, an analysis of the situation carried out after the Turkish machine was shot down indicated that at no point were American lives in danger, and there were no reasons to believe that the Turks intended to attack American soldiers with their drone. The Pentagon, commenting on these reports, labeled the shooting as a "regrettable incident".
Turkish authorities have confirmed the loss of a drone. Ankara points out that it was not Turkish military equipment. The unmanned aircraft belonged to Turkish intelligence and was involved in a mission against the Kurdish militia and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party).
These are the organizations that Americans are collaborating with to combat Daesh. At the same time, the Kurdish forces are being fought against by Turkey, which remains a NATO ally of the U.S.
According to "The Wall Street Journal", the incident with Syria is the first case when Americans shot down a NATO ally's aircraft.
