Turkey Scrambled Fighter Jets Against Syrian Helicopters

Turkey's military has said that it scrambled F16 warplanes three times on June 30 after Syrian helicopters flew close to the Turkish border.

A military statement said that none of the helicopters entered Turkish airspace.

It said jets were scrambled from Turkey's Incirlik air base twice on June 30 after Syrian military helicopters came within seven kilometers of the border, south of the Turkish province of Hatay.

Later, two warplanes were scrambled from Turkey's Batman air base after a Syrian helicopter came close to the border south of the Turkish province of Mardin.

Relations between the two neighbors hit rock bottom after Syria shot down a Turkish fighter jet last month.

Ankara insists the jet was in international airspace.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP