In northern Syria, reports indicate that a Turkish drone was downed by US-led forces amidst escalating tensions in the region. This came after US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces said Turkish attacks had killed eight people following a bombing in Ankara blamed on Kurdish militants.
There is no official confirmation of the incident at this time. However, Reuters reports that, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a local source, the US-led coalition shot down a Turkish drone near a base in northeastern Syria. A Turkish Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed the incident but said the drone did not belong to the Turkish armed forces. The identity was not specified further, and the coalition has not yet commented on the situation.
In addition to this, photos and videos of the supposed downed drone began to appear on X, formerly called Twitter.
U.S.-led forces reportedly down drone in Syria as Turkey strikes area https://t.co/QGZsc74C0N pic.twitter.com/reiQ0fK406
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) October 5, 2023
There has long been tensions between the US and Turkey over US support for Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Turkey believes Kurdish forces there are linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The recent bombing in Ankara further strained relations as Turkey indicated that a ground operation in Syria was a possible option, Reuters noted.
In northeastern Syria, Turkey has reportedly carried out several drone attacks targeting infrastructure, gas, and oil stations. These attacks are said to have killed six members of the internal security forces and two civilians.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Announced Airstrikes on RKK
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Wednesday that Turkish forces had carried out retaliatory airstrikes against positions occupied by the outlawed PKK in Iraq. The PKK has claimed responsibility for a recent bomb attack on the Turkish Interior Ministry building in Ankara.
#WATCH : A Turkish Anka-S drone shot down by a US Air Force F-16 in Al-Hasakah northern Syria. The drone tried to fly over the US Tel Baydar base.#USAirForce #F16 #FighterJet #USA #Turkiye #Turkey #Turkish #Drone #LatestNews #latest #flash #BREAKING_NEWS #AnkaS #JUSTIN… pic.twitter.com/LKZlUgjIJg
— upuknews (@upuknews1) October 5, 2023
Since the attack, Turkish authorities have detained numerous suspects, mostly in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeastern region, which borders Iraq and Syria. Fidan warned that all infrastructure, major installations, and energy facilities belonging to the PKK or its affiliated Kurdish group, the People’s Defense Units (YPG) in Iraq and Syria, are now considered legitimate targets for Turkish security forces.
He stressed that the response to the terrorist attack will be straightforward and tough. In addition, he advised third parties to stay away from the aforementioned areas, Deutsche Welle reports.
Fidan said Turkish intelligence had evidence that two of the attackers responsible for the Ankara bombing had entered Turkey through Syria and received training there. However, his claim was disputed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which accused Turkey of looking for pretexts for military aggression.
The PKK has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU and has been in conflict with Turkey since 1984.