070720-F-5502S-003 An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 18th Fighter Squadron positions itself behind a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during exercise Red Flag in Alaska on July 20, 2007. More than 80 aircraft and 1,500 service members from six different countries are flying together to sharpen their combat skills in simulated combat sorties. DoD photo by Capt. Tana R.H. Stevenson, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

For the first time in history: an American F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet downed a Turkish attack drone (video)

Last updated Oct 6, 2023 08:55 54

The United States shoots down an armed unmanned aerial vehicle in the skies over Syria.

Initially, it was reported that the Turkish ANKA-S drone was destroyed by a fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. Later, it turned out that the strike was carried out by a fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

USAF F-35A fighter jet from the 421st EFS shot-down a Turkish Air Force’s Anka-S armed drone over Hasakah. The Turkish drone had bombed the positions of the SDF, which are the US allies in the North East of Syria.

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– 301 Military (@301military) October 5, 2023

In any case, this is the first time in history that the United States has shot down an aircraft of Turkey, which is a NATO ally. Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the drone was shot down by an F-16 fighter jet. At the same time, Turkey claims that the UAV did not belong to the Turkish armed forces.

The unmanned aerial vehicle was flying near US military bases in Syria. According to officials, the military tried several times to contact the Turkish side before striking the UAV.

Source Reuters