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As Politico reports, citing “a person familiar with the situation,” a US F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone in Syria on Thursday. The unmanned flying object flew over an American base in the northeast of the country.
The drone was armed with air-to-surface missiles and was classified as a threat to US forces and their Syrian supporters at the Tal Baydar base. The unmanned aerial system is a Bayraktar TB2 built by the Turkish defense company Baykar. The drone usually operates at medium altitude and can remain in the air for a long time. The drone is mainly produced for the Turkish Armed Forces.
900 American soldiers in Syria
However, according to Reuters news agency, a spokesperson for the Turkish Defense Ministry denied that the downed drone belonged to the Turkish military. The spokesperson did not say who the drone should belong to.
The shooting down of a NATO ally’s unmanned aerial system by a US military aircraft could increase tensions between Washington and Ankara. The US has about 900 troops stationed in Syria and, together with local partners, is focusing on the hunt for Islamic State terrorists. The US State Department initially did not comment on the incident. (no)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
