Report: IAF jets circled over Turkish ship

Turkish paper claims two F-15 jets crossed Cyprus' airspace, approached Turkish coastline. IDF Spokesperson's Unit: Incident unfamiliar

Ynet|Published: 09.30.11 , 13:03

Aerial incident above the Mediterranean? A crew onboard a Turkish exploration ship searching for gas reservoirs near Cyprus claimed that two Israeli aircraft and a helicopter circled above them on Thursday night,

According to a report published Friday in the Turkish newspaper Watan Daily, two F-15 jets passed through Cyprus' Greek and Turkish airspace and approached the Turkish coastline, while ignoring air controllers' warnings in north Cyprus, which is considered a Turkish territory.

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The report, which was featured on the paper's front page, also claimed that the jets retreated only after Turkey dispatched two F-16 planes.

The IDF Spokesperson's Office said in response that it is unfamiliar with the incident.

Earlier this week, Turkey unveiled its first domestically developed and produced battleship. In a festive ceremony attended by top governmental and military officials, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has placed itself in among the 10 leading countries that can design and build their own battleships.

Last week, Erdogan Addressed the Greek Cypriot administration's exploratory drilling in the eastern Mediterranean and said that what Israel and southern Cyprus embarked upon was insanity.

The Turkish prime minister added that their move is nothing other than a method to sabotage negotiations between the parties.