Iraq now armed to shoot Turkish jets, says Air Force officers

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet photo

Iraq is now capable of shooting down Turkish jets entering Iraqi airspace to target Kurdish militants, Iraqi Air Force Officer Iskander Witwit recently told the New York Times.

An analysis of the state of Iraq following the Syrian civil conflict appeared in New York Times, where an Iraqi general said Iraqi officials were aware of Turkish jets entering their airspace and that they "resented it."

Witwit was then quoted as saying that Iraq was now capable of defending itself against these intrusions.

“God willing, we will be arming Iraq with weapons to be able to shoot down those planes," Witwit said.

The article defined the increase in Turkish jets crossing over as one of Iraq's major concerns as it was undermining “Iraq's ability to control its own [air] space."