MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-SHOOT DOWN Turkey says it shot down drone near Syrian border

Record ID: 135886

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-SHOOT DOWN Turkey says it shot down drone near Syrian border
  • Date: 16th October 2015
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (OCTOBER 16, 2015) (REUTERS) TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, NUMAN KURTULMUS, ARRIVING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, NUMAN KURTULMUS, SAYING: "We already shared the information we have with the public. As you now, as a requirement of our rules of engagement, Turkish Armed Forces have warned foreign elements about v
  • Embargoed: 31st October 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAELOSC4D9U4I10WA412MIW4SOH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Turkey said its warplanes shot down an unidentified drone in Turkish air space near Syria on Friday (October 16).
    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.
    "As you now, as a requirement of our rules of engagement, Turkish Armed Forces have warned foreign elements about violating Turkish airspace - and after several warnings, if these foreign elements do not comply with these warnings, they are shot down," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters in Istanbul.
    "According to the information we have, an unidentified aircraft was shot down after violating Turkish air space. The Turkish Armed Forces will release further information once we have more information," he added.
    The downing of the drone highlights the risks to NATO member Turkey as Syrian, Russian and U.S. coalition aircraft fly combat missions so close to its borders.
    A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington suspected it was a Russian drone, but said the information was still preliminary and declined to give any more details.
    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".
    Russian jets violated Turkish air space on two occasions earlier this month and Turkey has warned it will respond if the incursions are repeated.
    Russia's air strikes in Syria mean that Russian and NATO planes are now flying combat missions in the same air space for the first time since World War Two, heightening concern that the Cold War enemies could fire on each other.
    The Russian air force officially informed the Turkish military on Thursday about the violations by Russian jets earlier this month, and about steps it would take to prevent a repetition.
    Turkey has also reported unidentified aircraft and Syria-based missile air defence systems harassing its warplanes several times in recent months.
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