Turkish fighter jets scramble to intercept Syrian warplanes

Four Turkish fighter jets scrambled on Wednesday to intercept three Syrian SU-24 fighter jets and one MIG-25 fighter jet which approached to southern Turkey, said a Turkish military statement. Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled Friday to intercept two Syrian SU-24 jets which came closer to the south of Cilvegozu Border Gate in Reyhanli town of Hatay province in southern Turkey, said the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces in the statement. On the same day, two other F-16 fighter jets scrambled when another Syrian SU-24 fighter jet and one MIG-25 fighter jet approached to the south of Oncupinar Border Gate of Turkey's southern Kilis province, according to the statement. Interception of jets between the two countries have increased since a Turkish warplane was shot down in 2012 by the Syrian army after it reportedly violated the Syrian airspace, according to local media. Turkey downed a Syrian MI-17 attack helicopter in September last year, saying it made a 2-km incursion into its airspace while ignoring warnings.