Turkey downs Syria military Jet

 

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodgan warned such action by Syria merited a "heavy response".


But Syria accused Turkey of "blatant aggression", saying the plane had been over Syrian territory at the time.

The incident reportedly occurred in an area where Syrian rebels and government forces have been fighting for control of a border crossing.

Turkey and Syria - once allies - have more than 500 miles (800km) of common border.

 'Ignored warnings'
 
Speaking at a rally of supporters, Mr Erdogan congratulated his country's air force on its actions on Sunday.

"A Syrian plane violated our airspace. Our F-16s took off and hit this plane. Why? because if you violate my airspace, our slap after this will be hard," he said.
 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a UK-based activist group - said initial reports from the area suggested the plane came down on the Syrian side of the border.

"Turkish air defences targeted a Syrian fighter-bomber as it struck areas of the northern province of Latakia. The plane caught fire and crashed in Syrian territory," the Observatory said.

According to one report, the plane's pilot was able to eject.

In a media statement on the incident, the Turkish General Staff said two Syrian military jets were involved, and that they had been "warned four times that they were approaching Turkish airspace".

One of the Syrian MiGs turned back, it said.

"But the second Syrian jet entered Turkish airspace in the Camli Hill Border Outpost area in Yayladag, Hatay at 1313 (local time) in spite of the warnings. It then turned westwards and continued flying in our airspace for a distance of 1.5km.

"At this point one of two Turkish F-16s flying Combat Air Patrol in the region fired a missile at the Syrian jet in accordance with the rules of eEngagement at 1314. Hit, the Syrian jet fell in the vicinity of Kesab on Syrian soil 1,200m south of the border."