Xinhua News Agency
February 8, 2014
Turkish F-16 jets scramble to intercept Syrian jets
ANKARA: Four Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled on Saturday to intercept two Syrian warplanes which approached to southern Turkey, said a Turkish military statement on its website.
Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled Saturday to intercept one Syrian MIG-25 fighter jet which came close to the south of Cilvegozu Border Gate of Hatay province in southern Turkey, said the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces in the written statement, adding the Syrian fighter jet moved away only 2.7 sea miles to Turkish border.
On the same day, two other F-16 fighter jets scrambled when another Syrian MI-17 helicopter approached to the south of Karbeya area of Turkey’s Hatay province and the Syrian MI-17 helicopter moved away only 3.7 sea miles to Turkish border, according to the statement.
Interception of jets between the two countries have increased since a Turkish warplane was shot down in 2012 by the Syrian army after it reportedly violated the Syrian airspace, according to local media.
Turkey downed a Syrian MI-17 attack helicopter in September last year, saying it made a 2-km incursion into its airspace while ignoring warnings.
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