US jet shoots down Turkish drone in Syria, officers say

WASHINGTON/ANKARA:

The US on Thursday shot down an armed Turkish drone that was working close to its troops in Syria, U.S. officers mentioned, the primary time Washington has introduced down an plane of NATO ally Turkey.

A Turkish protection ministry official mentioned the drone shot down by the U.S.-led coalition didn’t belong to the Turkish armed forces however didn’t say whose property it was.

Turkey’s Nationwide Intelligence Company carried out strikes in Syria in opposition to Kurdish militant targets after a bomb assault in Ankara final weekend, a Turkish safety supply mentioned on Thursday.

Two U.S. officers, talking on the situation of anonymity, mentioned an F-16 shot down the Turkish drone after the USA referred to as Turkish army officers a number of instances to warn them they have been working near U.S. floor forces. The officers mentioned the Turkish drone was believed to be armed.

Learn Extra: Turkey rejects US condolences over Istanbul assault

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and an area safety supply mentioned the U.S.-led coalition had shot down a Turkish drone close to a base in northeastern Syria.

The incident comes at a fragile second for U.S.-Turkish relations, with the USA hoping Turkey will ratify NATO membership for Sweden.

Whereas the USA has not shot down a Turkish plane earlier than, tensions have flared and there have been shut calls. In 2019, U.S. troops in northern Syria got here underneath artillery hearth from Turkish positions.

TURKEY STRIKES IN SYRIA

U.S.-allied Syrian Kurdish forces mentioned Turkish assaults had killed eight folks in an escalation prompted by the bomb assault in Ankara by Kurdish militants.

U.S. help for Kurdish forces in northern Syria has lengthy induced pressure with Turkey, which views them as a wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Employees’ Social gathering (PKK). That group claimed duty for Sunday’s assault in Ankara close to authorities buildings.

Learn Extra: Turkey paying value for US alliance with Syrian Kurdish militia says Defence Minister

On Wednesday, Turkey mentioned the 2 attackers had come from Syria. The bombing killed each attackers and wounded two law enforcement officials. The Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-led drive backed by the USA, denied that the bombers had handed by its territory.

On Thursday, a Turkish protection ministry official mentioned a floor operation into Syria was one choice that Turkey may contemplate. Turkey has mounted a number of earlier incursions into northern Syria in opposition to the Syrian Kurdish YPG group.

“Our solely aim is to remove the terrorist organizations that pose a menace to Turkey. A floor operation is among the choices to remove this menace, however it isn’t the one choice for us,” the official mentioned.

Safety forces in northeastern Syria mentioned Turkey launched a collection of assaults on Thursday with greater than 15 drones coming into the area’s airspace and hitting targets together with infrastructure and gasoline and oil stations. In a press release, the safety forces mentioned Turkish assaults killed six members of the inner safety forces in northeastern Syria, and two civilians in two separate strikes.

Turkey has redoubled its operations concentrating on the outlawed PKK, by finishing up air strikes in northern Iraq.

Turkish officers mentioned any infrastructure and vitality amenities in Iraq and Syria managed by the PKK, in addition to Individuals’s Safety Models (YPG), have been professional army targets.

“The PKK and the YPG are the identical terrorist group, they’re our professional goal in every single place. Turkey carried out operations at any time when and wherever obligatory up to now, and these operations will proceed if wanted once more,” the protection ministry official mentioned.

“These operations are being carried out underneath self-defense rights arising from worldwide legislation to remove terrorist assaults on Turkish territory and to make sure border safety,” the official added.

The YPG can also be the spearhead of the principle ally of the U.S.-led coalition in opposition to Islamic State. Help for the YPG by the USA and different allies, together with France, has strained ties with Turkey. Turkey has warned forces of third nations to steer clear of amenities managed by the PKK and YPG.

“We’re calling on all events, our pleasant and allied nations particularly, to steer clear of these terrorists. That is only a reminder. It’s as much as them to take obligatory precautions,” the official mentioned, with out naming any nation.