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U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone Accidentally Shot Down by Syrian Democratic Forces on December 9 in Northern Syria

Dec 11, 2024, 06:02 PM

A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone was accidentally shot down over northern Syria by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on December 9, 2024. The SDF mistakenly identified the drone as Turkish amid ongoing tensions in the region. Multiple U.S. officials confirmed the incident, indicating that the chaotic nature of the fighting has contributed to such misidentifications. The SDF is currently facing unprecedented pressure from Turkey, the Syrian National Army (SNA), and its own Arab components, which complicates the operational environment. The U.S. has been supplying the SDF with advanced technology, including kamikaze drones, further adding to the complexity of the situation.