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Turkey Scrambles F-16 Fighters After Russia Violates Airspace
Turkey scrambled two F-16 fighters to escort a Russian aircraft away from its airspace near the Syrian border on Saturday, according to the country's Foreign Ministry.
It's understood the fighter jet was flying a sortie over the province of Hatay when it strayed into the sky above Turkey.
Amid increased tensions over Russia's entry in the bombing campaign, Ankara summoned Moscow's ambassador to protest the violation in an e-mailed statement.
According to the Reuters news agency Turkey is urging Russia to avoid repeating such a violation, strongly suggesting it would be held "responsible for any undesired incident that may occur."
More From Forces TV: The Lethal Russian Air Power Deployed In Syria
The Turkish government opposes Vladimir Putin's military intervention in the Syrian war. President Erdoğan insisting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his government cannot stay if the crisis is to be resolved. Turkey has been heavily involved in fighting with rebel groups against the Syrian state.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on violations of Turkish airspace by Russian combat aircraft:
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