The Turkish government is demanding an investigation into the downing of a Turkish fighter jet along the border of Turkey and Syria by Syrian military.
The Syrian state news agency, SANA, reported late Friday that the Syrian armed forces had spotted an “unidentified aerial target” flying within Syrian airspace at a low altitude over territorial waters.
Only upon shooting it down did the Syrian military recognise it as a Turkish jet.
The reaction from Turkey was firm, though vague, demanding an investigation to accurately assess the situation , vowing to do “whatever is necessary,” and strongly denouncing the incident.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc’s, told Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) that the plane was a reconnaissance aircraft – and not a warplane as previously alleged. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that jets crossing borders routinely fly at high speeds and that if it was discovered that the jet had been shot down within Turkish airspace, this shooting would be considered an offensive against Turkey.
Turkey vowed in April to work with NATO allies to counter any Syrian threat on Turkish security. The statements followed the death of two people inside a Syrian refugee camp inside Turkey in a shooting incident near the border.
Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Syria have deteriorated since the Syrian uprising began nearly 17 months ago. Several Syrian civilians and military opposition groups have since taken refuge in neighbouring Turkey.
For its part, Turkey has publicly asked Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to step down. Unofficially, however, rumours circulate that Syrian opposition fighters are receiving arms and funding from Turkey – alongside other states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. A New York Times report has looked at the deep involvement of the Turkish state in the growing strength of the Free Syrian Army.
In a press conference held in Ankara, Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Selçuk Ünal, denied allegations that Turkey was aiding the opposition movement, insisting that Turkey is only providing humanitarian asylum to Syrian refugees – be it civilians or military members of the opposition.
According to official Turkish records, 55,000 Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey; 20,000 of them have since returned home. Some of the remaining Syrian refugees include members the Free Syrian Army.
Within Syria, the situation continues to deteriorate. According to the state-run news agency SANA, on Friday 25 “shabiha”, pro-regime gunmen, were killed by rebels in Daret Azzeh. SANA described the rebels as “terrorists”, accusing them of killing and mutilating “civilian men”. Protests following Friday prayer in Aleppo and Damascus were attacked by troops, according to the UK-
based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Joint Arab League-UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, is now calling for Iran’s intervention in the solution to the Syria crisis. Iran, one of Assad regime’s strongest allies, has so far been opposed to the Syrian uprising. “If we continue the way we are going and competing with each other, it could lead to destructive competition and everyone will pay the price.” Annan told reporters in Geneva, further emphasizing that it is “time for countries of influence to raise the level of pressure on the parties on the ground”.
Turkey and Syria face off after shooting
