Syria Attacked Second Turkish Plane, Say Officials

A TV grab shows a Syrian military spokesman explaining on a map on June 23 that resulted in a Turkish fighter being shot down.

Turkey says Syria fired on one of its airplanes that was taking part in a search-and-rescue operation for a warplane shot down by Syrian forces last week.

News agencies quoted an unnamed official at Turkey's Foreign Ministry as saying on June 25 that the plane was fired at – but not brought down – and "was forced to return to base."

The official said Turkey immediately informed Syria that its forces were attacking a rescue operation.

Earlier, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Syria's "hostile action" would "not go unpunished."

Arinc, however, said Turkey had no intention of "going to war with anyone."

NATO will discuss the downing of the Turkish jet on June 26 in a meeting called by Turkey, which is a member state.

Based on reporting by dpa and the BBC