MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-SHOOT DOWN-DRONE Turkey shoots down drone near Syria

Record ID: 135361

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-SHOOT DOWN-DRONE Turkey shoots down drone near Syria
  • Date: 17th October 2015
  • Summary: DELIOSMAN VILLAGE, TURKEY (OCTOBER 16, 2015) (REUTERS) SMOKE RISING FROM THE VILLAGE VIEW OF MOUNTAINOUS AREA VARIOUS OF THE AREA WHERE DRONE WAS SHOT DOWN
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACI07YAIX7ZKEEE5EW05IRBTWW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Turkish warplanes shot down an unidentified drone in Turkish air space near Syria on Friday (October 16).
    An amateur video and photographers shot by a local resident Halil Dogan showed pieces of drone scattered around as a small fire broke out in the area.
    The Turkish military said its jets had shot down the aircraft after it continued on its trajectory despite three warnings, in line with its rules of engagement.
    Broadcaster NTV said it had come 3 km (1.9 miles) into Turkish air space.
    The incident highlights the dangers of multiple air combat operations over Syria, where government troops and their allies backed by Russian jets have launched an offensive against rebels near Aleppo.
    A U.S. official said Washington believed it was of Russian origin, but the Russian defence ministry said all of its planes in Syria had safely returned to base and that all its drones were operating "as planned". NATO said Turkey was investigating where the drone came from.
    Turkey has already complained of Russian warplanes violating its air space along the border with Syria earlier this month.
    The Russian Defence Ministry said later on Friday it had established direct contact with the Turkish military to avoid incidents with flights near the border, Interfax news agency reported.
    Russia had set up a hotline between a base used by its air force in Syria and the Israeli air force command centre to coordinate on Syria flights.
    The ministry also said it had agreed the technical details for an agreement with the United States on flight safety over Syria and a final memorandum would be signed soon.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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