Turkish jet shot down by Syria

The incident involving the shooting down of a Turkish military jet by Syrian forces marked a critical escalation in the tensions between Turkey and Syria. Following the downing of the Turkish F-4 Phantom jet, which was reportedly on a reconnaissance mission, the situation intensified further when Syrian artillery began shelling Turkish border towns. This aggressive action prompted Turkey to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows member states to consult on security matters when one of them feels threatened. The consultations led to a significant response from NATO, highlighting the alliance's commitment to collective defense. In response to the escalating conflict, NATO approved Operation Active Fence, which involved the deployment of U.S. and NATO Patriot missile batteries to bolster Turkey's air defense capabilities. This operation aimed to deter further Syrian aggression and protect Turkish territory from potential threats. The deployment of these missile systems represented a strategic move to enhance Turkey's defense posture amid rising regional tensions and the ongoing Syrian civil war, which had already led to a humanitarian crisis and significant geopolitical instability in the region.