Ankara, Feb 2 (IANS) Four Turkish fighter jets were launched Friday to intercept two Syrian military helicopters which approached southern Turkey, a military statement said here Saturday.
Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled Friday to intercept a Syrian MI-17 military helicopter which approached the Yayladagi village of Turkey’s Hatay province, Xinhua quoted the general staff of the Turkish Armed Forces as saying in a statement.
On the same day, two other F-16 fighter jets scrambled when another Syrian MI-17 military helicopter approached to the Nusaybin border village of Turkey’s southern Mardin province, it added.
Turkey, once an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but now a leading voice urging his ouster, shelters more than 700,000 Syrian refugees and has reportedly provided Syrian rebel army leaders with sanctuary.