Concerns about tension between the US and Türkiye in the ‘NATO alliance’… Phone call between U.S. and Turkish defense ministers
US Department of Defense: “Turkey remains an important ally and partner of the US”
An incident occurred in Syria where a U.S. fighter jet shot down a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally Turkye (Turkey) unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). There are concerns about increased tensions between the two countries in the future.
U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Patrick Ryder said at a regular briefing on the 5th (local time), “Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Secretary of Defense Turkiye regarding his activities near U.S. troops in Syria.”
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that a U.S. fighter jet shot down Turkiye’s drone in Syria. The U.S. military is carrying out an operation to defeat the Islamic State (IS) in cooperation with Kurdish fighters in Syria.
According to spokesman Ryder, the U.S. military discovered a drone conducting an airstrike near Hasakah, Syria, around 7:30 a.m. on this day. According to him, some of the airstrikes were carried out inside the US restricted operational zone (ROZ), only about 1km away from US troops.
Spokesperson Ryder said, “Around 11:30 a.m., the Turkiye drone re-entered the ROZ and headed toward the location of the U.S. troops.” Afterwards, when the drone reached a distance of less than 0.5 km from its own troops, it was considered a potential threat and was shot down with an F-16 fighter jet.
Spokesperson Ryder, however, called the shooting down a “regrettable incident,” but emphasized, “No U.S. soldiers were injured in the incident, and there is no indication that Turkiye intentionally targeted U.S. troops.” It was also said that the two ministers reaffirmed their close cooperation.
The Kurds, who are called ‘the world’s largest nationless people,’ have been pursuing independence in Syria, Turkiye, and Iraq. Although they have been a major ground force in the U.S. campaign to defeat IS since 2014, Turkiye views them as a thorn in his side.
In particular, prior to this shootdown, a suicide bombing occurred in Ankara ahead of the opening of parliament on the 1st, and the Kurdish armed group Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) claimed responsibility. The Turkiye government announced that it had carried out an ‘air strike against terrorists.’
WSJ assessed that the shooting down incident on this day could create tension between the two NATO allies regarding US military strategy in Syria. However, spokesman Ryder said, “Turkiye remains an important and valuable NATO ally and partner of the United States.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.