A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone was mistakenly shot down by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria on Monday, U.S. officials confirmed.
According to U.S. officials, the drone was conducting a mission as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led campaign to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) when it was shot down. The confusion arose amid escalating tensions between the SDF and Turkish-backed forces, exacerbated by Turkey’s military operations against Kurdish factions in the area.
“The incident was a result of friendly fire from partner forces conducting operations in the region who misidentified the unmanned aircraft as a threat,” said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. She further reassured that there was “no change to our partnership with the SDF when it comes to ensuring the defeat of ISIS.”
Shortly after the incident, images of the downed MQ-9 Reaper began circulating on social media, showing the largely intact wreckage in northern Syria. A U.S. defense official confirmed that U.S. forces subsequently destroyed the drone to prevent sensitive technology from being compromised.
FRIENDLY FIRE 💥 — US-backed terrorist group PKK/YPG/SDF has accidentally shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper #drone in #Syria yesterday after mistaking it for a Turkish TUSAS #Anka. 🇹🇷🇺🇸😅 pic.twitter.com/LKBVQeBNfy
— Turkish Century (@TurkishCentury) December 10, 2024
The MQ-9 Reaper, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is a long-endurance reconnaissance and strike drone widely used in counterterrorism and intelligence-gathering missions.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 4,760 kilograms and a wingspan of 20 meters, the Reaper can carry up to 1,700 kilograms of payload, including high-precision weaponry. It operates at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour, with an altitude capability of 15,000 meters and a flight duration of up to 28 hours in extended-range configurations.
The recent incident follows heightened tensions in the region after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, which created a power vacuum now being contested by various factions, including Turkish-backed militias and the SDF.
