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Turkey considers that the downing of its fighter aircraft by Syria as an act of aggression 2506123.


| 2012
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Defense News - Turkey

 
 
Monday, June 25, 2012, 11:24 AM
 
Turkey considers that the downing of its fighter aircraft by Syria as an act of aggression.
A Turkish F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft was shot down by Syrian armed forces, Sunday, June 24, 2012. Syria insists the Turkish jet was inside its airspace when it was fired on after Syrian military failed to indentify it.
     
A Turkish F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft was shot down by Syrian armed forces, Sunday, June 24, 2012. Syria insists the Turkish jet was inside its airspace when it was fired on after Syrian military failed to indentify it.
F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft of Turkish Air Force (Archive image)
     

Relations between Ankara and Damascus have become increasingly strained with Syria’s escalating conflict repeatedly crossing over Turkey’s borders. Ankara is considering its response to the attack on one of its F-4 Phantom jets which it says was in international airspace at the time.

"Our plane was shot down in international airspace, 13 nautical miles from Syria," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told TRT television on Sunday, dismissing Syria's claim that the plane was flying just 1 km off the Syrian coast when it was shot down.

Turkey has intercepted radio communications from the Syrian side, which suggested they knew it was a Turkish plane, the Turkish minister said. "We have both radar info and Syria's radio communications," Davutoglu said, adding there was no warning from Syria before it shot down the plane.

The search continues for the two missing pilots of the downed jet, with the navies of both Turkey and Syria looking for the men although Turkey says it is not conducting a joint operation.

NATO members will be meeting this Tuesday in Belgium to discuss the incident, at the request of Turkish officials, according to NATO spokesman Oana Lungescu.

The meeting, or "consultations," is one Turkey called under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, Lungescu said in an e-mail to CNN. Turkey is expected to make a presentation about the plane incident.

 
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