Turkish Air Force rewards soldiers who downed Syrian chopper

ANKARA - Agence France-Presse

The chopper onto Syrian soil after being shot down by the Turkish army on Sept. 16. AA photo

The Turkish Air Force on Sept. 22 paid tribute to the soldiers who shot down a Syrian military helicopter last week which was held responsible of violating Turkish airspace.

Air Force Commander Gen. Akın Öztürk has "rewarded the personnel who applied rules of engagement toward a Syrian helicopter which refused to leave the airspace last week despite warnings," the Air Force Command said in a statement.

Turkish warplanes on Sept. 16 downed the Syrian helicopter which Ankara said was detected two kilometres inside Turkish airspace. Turkey changed its rules of engagement after the downing of one of its fighter jets by the Syrian Air Force in June 2012.

The government had warned that any military approach from Syria on the Turkish border would be considered a threat.