Ankara Says Downed Syrian Warplane in Turkish Airspace, Damascus Slams 'Flagrant Aggression'
Turkish anti-aircraft fire shot down a Syrian warplane on Sunday as it bombed rebels fighting to seize control of a border post in northwestern Syria, in an operation described by Damascus as a “flagrant aggression.”
"Turkish air defenses targeted a Syrian fighter bomber as it struck areas of the northern province of Latakia. The plane caught fire and crashed in Syrian territory," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Damascus called Turkey's move a “flagrant aggression.”
"In a flagrant act of aggression that is evidence of (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's support for terrorist groups, Turkish anti-aircraft defenses shot down a Syrian military aircraft that was chasing terrorist groups inside Syrian territory at Kasab," a military source said.
The pilot was able to eject, the source added.
But the Turkish military said two Syrian MIG-23 planes approaching its airspace were warned "four times" to turn away and that it scrambled fighter jets when one refused to do so.
"Despite the warnings the second Syrian plane entered Turkish airspace at 1313 local time (1113 GMT) ... and breached it by approximately one kilometer and then headed to the west and kept flying 1.5 kilometers inside our airspace," the army said in a statement on its website.
"One of the patrolling F-16 jets fired a missile at the Syrian plane at 1314 local time (1114 GMT) in line with rules of engagement and the plane fell into the Kasab region on Syrian territory, 1,200 meters from the border," it added.
Earlier on Sunday, the Syrian foreign ministry issued a protest over Turkish "interference" in the Kasab region of Latakia.
Turkey's "unjustified military aggression against Syrian sovereignty in the Kasab border region over the past two days proves its implication in the events in Syria," it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Erdogan congratulated his military for downing the Syrian fighter jet and warned of a "heavy" response if Turkish airspace was violated.
"Our response will be heavy if you violate our airspace," Erdogan said during an election rally, referring to the regime of President Bashar Assad.
"I congratulate the chief of general staff, the armed forces and those honorable pilots... I congratulate our air forces," said the premier.
President Abdullah Gul called Chief of Staff General Necdet Ozel to congratulate him.
"Turkey has shown its determination to protect its border," he was quoted as saying by Turkish media.
Parliament speaker Cemil Cicek said Turkey acted within its rights under international law, media reported.
Turkish warplanes last year downed a Syrian helicopter, which Ankara said was detected two kilometers inside Turkish airspace.
Turkey toughened its rules of engagement after the downing of one of its fighter jets by the Syrian air force in June 2012, to say that any military approach of the Turkish border from Syria would be considered a threat.
The Observatory had said earlier that Syrian government forces and rebels on the ground were battling for control of a border post with Turkey in Latakia province.
"Fighters of al-Nusra Front and other groups have overrun the crossing point and driven out government forces" and their allies, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
But fierce clashes continued around the crossing point and in the nearby town of Kasab, in a battle which erupted on Friday.
"Significant military reinforcements have been sent to the government forces," said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of activists and medical sources on the ground for its reports.
The Observatory said earlier that nearly 80 fighters on both sides have been killed in the Kasab battle.
A Syrian security source said the rebels who had infiltrated from Turkey into Kasab suffered "heavy blows" on Sunday and denied reports that the army had lost control of its "Observatory 45" military post.
On Tuesday, al-Nusra and Islamist groups Sham al-Islam and Ansar al-Sham announced the launch of an offensive dubbed "Anfal" in Latakia province.
The province, which includes Assad's family village, is considered a regime stronghold, and many residents are from his Alawite minority.
Source: Agence France Presse
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