NATO to meet over Syria’s downing of Turkish jet

US: NATO said it would meet to discuss member state Turkey’s accusation that Syria shot down one of its warplanes in international airspace and not inside its own territory, as Damascus claims.

NATO said it would hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday following a request from Turkey that invoked Article Four of the alliance’s founding treaty, which covers threats to member states’ security.

Turkey has already acknowledged that its fighter jet might at some point have entered Syrian airspace. But after an initially cautious response, Ankara toughened its rhetoric on Sunday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Turkey’s TRT television that at the time it was shot down, their plane was in international airspace, 13 nautical miles from Syria.

Syria had given no warning before opening fire, he added.

The fighter had been on an unarmed training mission to carry out a radar system test, and both pilots are still missing.

“The Syrians knew full well that it was a Turkish military plane and the nature of its mission,” said Davutoglu.

“Nobody should dare put Turkey’s (military) capabilities to the test,” he warned.

“We will bring this affair before public opinion and international law in the name of Turkey’s honour.”

AFP