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An Iraqi military confirmed on Thursday that the Iraqi forces downed a Turkish Aksungur unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
The Aksungur, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone designed for both surveillance and combat operations.
This incident comes at a delicate time, as the two neighboring countries share a lengthy border frequently used by the PKK group to infiltrate Türkiye. The downing of the drone follows a recent visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Iraq on April 22, which was seen as a turning point in improving the strained relations between Ankara and Baghdad, especially in their joint efforts to combat the PKK militants based in northern Iraq.
In light of the recent incident, Öncü Keçeli, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, stated that Türkiye is coordinating closely with Iraq to clarify the circumstances surrounding the downing of the Aksungur drone. Keçeli emphasized the ongoing dialogue between the two nations, reaffirming their mutual commitment to the counterterrorism efforts.
He stressed that despite this setback, both nations are keen on continuing their collaborative efforts to address security challenges in the region.
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