A Russian-made MIG-29 fighter jet put two Turkish F-16 jets under radar lock on Turkish-Syrian border on Monday, the Turkish military has announced.
In a written statement issued on its website on Monday, the military said 10 F-16s scrambled to patrol the Turkish-Syrian border. During this mission, a MIG-29 placed two Turkish F-16s under radar lock for five minutes and 40 seconds. The military said it has not yet determined which country the MIG-29 belongs to.
Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday a Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace near the Syrian border, prompting Ankara to scramble two F-16 jets to intercept it and summon Moscow’s ambassador in protest.
“[It] exited Turkish airspace into Syria after it was intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force that were conducting patrols in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Moscow’s ambassador to protest the violation and urged Russia against any repeat, warning it would be held “responsible for any undesired incident that may occur.”
Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu had spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as well as key NATO partners, the statement said.