Warplane shot down near Syria-Turkey border

According to a Turkish military official, the warplane was warned of violating the country’s airspace before a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot it down. Two pilots were seen parachuting from the plane, CNN reports.

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The warplane went down in an area known by Turks as “Turkmen Mountain” in northern Syria near the Turkish border, private broadcaster Haberturk said.

Turkey called this week for a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss attacks on Turkmens in neighbouring Syria, and last week Ankara summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the bombing of their villages. It has also repeatedly voiced concern about Russian military support for its longtime foe, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

A military official in Turkey said the plane was shot down by Turkish F16s, and that the pilot was given prior warning.

The sources said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had consulted on the intelligence dimension of the issue with the armed forces chief and the head of the national intelligence agency.