Turkey downs unidentified drone violating air space

The Turkish General Staff said one of its control centers detected an aircraft, whose nationality is uncertain, and warned it three times after it approached the Turkish border.

“The unidentified aircraft was hit and shot down in our airspace by our F-16 fighter jets within the scope of rules of engagement during a border mission," the General Staff said.

The General Staff said it was warned three times before being shot down at around 12:30 p.m. near Deliosman village in Kilis province, near the Syrian border, in line with the rules of engagement.

Senior military officials, who were flown to the scene by helicopters, personally inspected the site the unidentified drone crashed.

Civilians have not been allowed to approach to the scene. Investigation at the scene are still.

“The Turkish Armed Forces will make a further statement when the origin [of the aircraft] is identified," a senior government official said during the inauguration of a mosque. However, he declined to give any more details.

The incident comes after Russian jets violated Turkish airspace on two occasions earlier this month. Ankara has warned it will respond immediately if the incursions are repeated.

U.S. officials suggest the unidentified aircraft it is of Russian origin, but do not go into any detail. This claim has been denied by Moscow. The Russian defense ministry said on Friday that all its planes in Syria had safely returned to base and all its drones were operating "as planned" after Turkish fighter jets shot down a drone near the Syrian border, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.