On Thursday, the United States took the extraordinary step of shooting down an armed Turkish drone that had approached dangerously close to U.S. troops stationed in northeastern Syria, according to U.S. officials who spoke with The Associated Press. This incident represents an uncommon instance of one NATO member employing force against another.

The Turkish drone had been engaged in dropping bombs on targets near Hasakah. While there was no direct intent to target U.S. troops, the proximity of the dropped bombs posed a potential threat to American forces, as stated by one of the officials.

The decision to shoot down the drone was made after numerous attempts to communicate with Turkish military officials. U.S. military officials had made over a dozen calls to their Turkish counterparts, emphasizing the presence of U.S. forces in the vicinity and warning that protective measures would be taken if the drone failed to withdraw. Ultimately, a U.S. F-16 fighter jet was dispatched to intercept and shoot down the Turkish drone, as confirmed by one official in conversation with the AP.

Traditionally, the U.S. and Turkish militaries, both NATO allies, closely coordinate their actions during air operations. However, U.S. troops in the region also collaborate closely with Kurdish-led forces as part of efforts to counter the Islamic State group.

Source: with agencies