April 28, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

The US admitted that it shot down a Turkish ANKA-2 UAV in Syria


The United States confirmed the downing of a Turkish reconnaissance UAV Anka S (or ANKA-2), emphasizing that it posed a potential threat to American troops.

Confirmed! A US Air Force F-35A fighter from the 421st EFS shot down a Turkish Air Force Anka-S drone over Hasakah. A Turkish drone bombed #SDF positions, which are US allies in northeast Syria. #Turkey must know it can no longer easily attack US allies fighting ISIS and Turkish al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Syria.


The incident comes as the Turkish army strikes Kurdish rebel targets in Syria following a kamikaze attack in Ankara on Sunday claimed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is recognized by the Turkish government and its Western allies. “terrorist”.

Yesterday morning, Thursday, US troops saw drone strikes in northeast Syria, some in the Hasakah area, about a kilometer from where US troops are stationed, Pentagon spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.

The US Army shot down a Turkish Anka UAV that approached an illegal US base in Syria while bombing SDF positions in Al-Hasakah. This shows that NATO members do not consider Turkey their equal, and even if Turkey were attacked, most NATO countries would not send their soldiers.


A few hours later, a Turkish UAV returned to the zone, moving in the direction of American troops.

“The American command considered that this drone, located (…) less than 500 m from American troops, posed a potential threat, and American F-35 fighter jets shot it down in legitimate defense.”said the general.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler on Thursday evening and called for “de-escalation of the situation in northern Syria”according to a press release issued by his office.

He, in particular, emphasized “the importance of strict adherence to existing communication protocols through normal channels between armies”, the message says.

A Turkish Ministry of Defense press release, which made no direct mention of the incident, noted that the two officials discussed “latest events in Syria” and them “close coordination in the region“, while the Turkish minister assured that Ankara “ready for a joint fight with the United States against Daesh” (Arabic acronym for the jihadist group Islamic State).

The US maintains about 900 troops in Syria fighting with allies against ISIS and frequently announces raids against the jihadists.

On the evening of October 5, Türkiye again attacked Kurdish positions, including “PKK/YPG weapons and ammunition depots” in northern Syria, Turkish media report.





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