Syrian president regrets downing of Turkish jet

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that he fully regretted the downing of a Turkish F-4 jet during an interview with Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper.

Arguing that the plane was flying over an area previously utilised by Israel’s air force and was shot down in the Mediterranean in June.

The jet’s two pilots still remain missing. Tensions between Syria and Turkey have increased as a result.

Turkish Prime Minister condemned Syria’s downing of the jet plane last week describing Syria as a ‘threat’ and have reinforced their border areas with heavy armoury including rocket-launchers.

During the interview, Assad was also quoted as saying that Syria would not permit the downing of the jet to cause open combat between Turkey and Israel.

However, Turkey said that six F-16 fighter jets had been scrambled after helicopters approached the border from Syria.