Turkey scrambles two fighter jets to intercept Syrian warplane

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Air dogfights between the two countries have increased since a Turkish F-4 jet that was flying over the Mediterranean Sea was downed by Syria on June 22. DHA photo

Two Turkish F-16 jets were sent to the border with Syria after a SU-24 fighter jet from the Syrian army came closer to the border, the Turkey’s General Staff has said in a statement. 

The Syrian warplane changed its route when it was 3.6 sea miles away from the border with Turkey.

The two F-16 jets scrambled to the border with Syria after it was detected that the Syrian SU-24 plane was heading east of the Cilvegözü border located in a southeastern province of Syria. The Syrian jet changed its route when it was close to the border, according to the statement released by the General Staff on its website.

Air dogfights between the two countries have increased since a Turkish F-4 jet that was flying over the Mediterranean Sea was downed by Syria on June 22, 2012, causing an international uproar.

More recently, Turkey shot down a Syrian helicopter on Sept. 16 after arguing that it had violated Turkish airspace by two kilometers.