Picture taken on Oct. 16, 2015 shows an unmanned aircraft shot down by Turkish jets in southeast Turkey's Kilis Province. Turkish jets shot down the unmanned aircraft near the border with Syria on Friday, the Turkish military said in a statement. (Xinhua/Merit Macit)
ANKARA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish jets shot down an unmanned aircraft near the border with Syria on Friday, the Turkish military said in a statement.
Turkey said the drone of "unknown nationality" ignored warnings for three times and continued its operation. The shutdown was "within the rules of engagement."
In 2013, Turkish warplanes shot down a Syrian helicopter above the border region with Syria after the chopper allegedly violated Turkish airspace.
In June 2012, the Syrian air defenses shot down a Turkish fighter jet that reportedly penetrated the Syrian territorial water.
Turkey has emerged throughout the Syrian crisis as a main sympathizer with the rebellion against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian government accuses Turkey of allowing foreign militants to cross into Syria from Turkey freely.
