Pentagon officials have revealed that multiple warnings were issued prior to the shooting down of a Turkish armed drone by a US fighter jet on Thursday. According to US officials, the drone was flying in close proximity to American ground forces in northeast Syria. Concerned that this incident will further escalate tensions between the two nations, the US promptly took steps to mend relations with Turkey, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. “It’s regrettable when you have two NATO allies and there’s an incident like this,” stated Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder during a press briefing, as per CBS News.
Pentagon officials confirmed that there was no evidence to suggest Turkey was intentionally targeting US troops. However, they emphasized that the drone came within 500 yards of the American forces and disregarded repeated warnings. The officials stated that several drones were operating in an area designated for US operations, but all left after receiving the warnings. One of the drones returned, at which point the F-16 shot it down. During the incident, American troops sought shelter in bunkers while Turkey conducted bombings in nearby areas, according to sources cited by the AP.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. CQ Brown, the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made phone calls to their counterparts in Turkey later on Thursday to discuss measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. The US relies on Turkey for support in various areas, such as Sweden’s potential NATO membership, combating terrorist threats in the Middle East, and diplomatic efforts surrounding Ukraine. Around 900 US troops are stationed in Syria, working alongside Kurdish-led fighters in the fight against the Islamic State. In light of the events on Thursday, Ryder stated that US forces took “appropriate action.” (Read more Pentagon stories.)
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