US F-16s Down Turkish Drone In Syria, Pentagon Claims "Self-Defence"; Ankara Hits Kurdish Fighters

The United States on October 5 shot down an armed Turkish drone that was operating near its troops in Syria, the Pentagon said, the first time Washington has brought down an aircraft of NATO ally Turkey.Turkish UAVs had been seen carrying out airstrikes Hasakah, Syria on October 5 morning about 1 km away from U.S. troops. A few hours later a Turkish drone came within less than a half a kilometer (0.3 miles) of U.S. troops and was deemed a threat and shot down by F-16 aircraft.The incident comes at a delicate moment for U.S.-Turkish relations, with the United States hoping Turkey will ratify NATO membership for Sweden.