(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Turkish fighter jets on Saturday shot down a Syrian helicopter that crossed into Turkey's airspace in the south of the country, the government and army said.
The incident marked a new spike in tensions between Turkey and the Damascus regime of President Bashar al-Assad, whose overthrow Turkey believes is essential to solve the Syrian crisis.
"A Syrian helicopter was downed that violated the border for a period of five minutes within a seven mile (11 kilometre) limit," Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz was quoted as saying by the Dogan news agency.
Syrian state television had earlier indicated the aircraft was a drone.
"Having rightly fulfilled their duty, I congratulate the armed forces and kiss the eyes of them all," Yilmaz said, using a traditional Turkish expression.
He did not give any further details on the helicopter or possible casualties.
The incident happened in the area of the Cilvegozu border crossing in the Hatay region of southern Turkey on the Syrian border, Yilmaz said.
Without specifying that the aircraft was a helicopter, the Turkish armed forces said two F-16s had been scrambled to deal with the intruding Syrian aircraft.
"The aircraft was rendered ineffective. The aircraft fell onto Syrian territory," the army statement said.
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