On Thursday, October 5, breaking news came in that the U.S. military had shot down an armed Turkish drone over Syria. This incident serves as a rare use of force by one NATO member against another as the drone came within 500 meters of American troops.
Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, called it a “regrettable incident” and said U.S. troops were forced to go to bunkers for safety as Turkey bombed targets nearby.
JUST IN – US warplane shot down Turkish drone over Syria. pic.twitter.com/rY7tiQAGLR
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 5, 2023
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs chairman Gen CQ Brown both spoke with their Turkish counterparts quickly after the incident to emphasize the value they place on their relationship with Turkey while also noting the need to avoid any similar incidents in future and ensure the safety of US personnel. The decision was made out of due diligence and using “the inherent right of self-defense.”
On Wednesday, October 4, there was a separate bombing attack in government-controlled Homs which killed at least 80 people during a military graduation ceremony attended by young officers and their families, injuring 240 additional individuals according to Syria’s health ministry.
The Syrian military blamed insurgents “backed by known international forces” but did not name any particular group; they threatened to respond with full force if necessary.
Syria has been embroiled in civil war for over 10 years now, split into areas controlled by different factions such as al Qaeda-linked militants, Turkish supported opposition fighters and Kurdish forces who partner with US forces against Islamic State group militants – leading to half a million deaths thus far along with numerous injuries across many parts of the country destroyed as well.
Despite being close allies through NATO membership, Turkey considers Kurdish militant forces partnered up with US troops part of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which has led them carrying out airstrikes against suspected arms depots belonging to PKK or People’s Defense Units (YPG).
