This Article is From Feb 09, 2014

Turkish F-16 jets scramble to intercept Syrian jets

Ankara, Turkey: Four Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled on Saturday to intercept two Syrian warplanes which approached southern Turkey, the Turkish military said.

Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled on Saturday to intercept one Syrian MIG-25 fighter jet which came close to the south of Cilvegozu Border Gate of Hatay province, Xinhua quoted the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces in a statement, adding the Syrian fighter jet moved away only 2.7 sea miles to Turkey's border.

On the same day, two other F-16 fighter jets scrambled when another Syrian MI-17 helicopter approached the south of Karbeya area of Turkey's Hatay province. The Syrian MI-17 helicopter moved away only 3.7 sea miles to the border, the statement added.

Interception of jets between the two countries have increased since a Turkish warplane was shot down in 2012 by the Syrian army after it reportedly violated the Syrian airspace, according to local media.

Turkey downed a Syrian MI-17 attack helicopter in September last year, saying it made a 2km incursion into its airspace while ignoring warnings.

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