US-led coalition shoots down drone in southern Syria

A British warplane that is part of a US-led coalition shot down a drone this week near a base where US troops are stationed in southern Syria, officials said on Thursday, Reuters reported.

The base, known as Tanf, is located in a strategic area near Syria’s Tanf border crossing with Iraq and Jordan and houses a small number of US troops.

Tanf is the only position with a significant US military presence in Syria outside the Kurdish-controlled north.

Britain’s defence ministry said a Typhoon warplane shot down a “small hostile drone” that was a threat to coalition forces. It said this was the first air-to-air engagement for a Royal Air Force Typhoon.

US Central Command spokesman, Navy Captain Bill Urban, said two drones entered the Tanf garrison “deconfliction” zone on Tuesday and one was shot down as it moved closer to the base. He said there were no casualties or damage to facilities.

READ: Cross-border aid is essential to millions of Syrians in Idlib, UN head says

It was not immediately clear who owned the drone.

Iranian-backed forces have in the past attacked US troops with drones and rockets in eastern Syria and Iraq.

In October, a number of drones were launched against the base, although there were no US casualties.

US officials have said Iranian-backed militia could increase attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria in coming weeks, in part to mark the anniversary of the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

The two were killed by a US drone strike in Iraq on Jan. 2, 2020.