DOWNED DRONE VIOLATES TURKEY'S AIRSPACE

Ankara, 4 Muharram 1437/17 October 2015 (MINA) – Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu has announced that the Turkish army has shot down an unidentified drone after violating the national airspace on Friday.

The aircraft was shot down three kilometers (1.86 miles) inside Turkish teritory, Sinirlioglu said in a press conference.

He added that the origin of the drone has not been known yet.

He pointed out that Russia has apologized several times after its aircraft breaching of the Turkish airspace and vowed to take all necessary to avoid reoccurrences.

Earlier, the Turkish military announced that Turkish jets downed an unidentified aircraft near Syria border after it violated Turkish air space, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Kuwait News Agency KUNA.

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“The aircraft, whose nationality could not be established, was downed by patrolling Turkish jets in accordance with engangement rules after it failed to heed three warnings,” the Turkish General Staff said in a statement issued on its website.

Turkish Armed Forces is performing its duties determinedly within the framework of engagement rules, it added.

The downing of the drone on Friday comes after Russia twice infiltrated Turkish air space on consecutive days earlier this month. On both occasions, Turkish F-16 jets intercepted the Russian fighters and forced a retreat. (T/R07/R01/R04)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)