The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced, according to the French Press Agency (AFP), that Turkish aircraft were on a mission in the Aegean Sea and in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and were attacked by the Greek S-300 air defense system, condemning the “hostile act”.

A Greek air defense system stationed on the island of Crete “covered” the sensors installed on Turkish F-16 aircraft that were on a reconnaissance mission at an altitude of 10,000 feet west of the island of Rhodes, Turkish Defense Ministry sources say.

The sources stressed that the move amounted to a “hostile act” under the rules of engagement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, the Turkish planes “completed their task and returned safely to base.”

Turkey has complained in recent months about Greece’s actions, which it called provocative and detrimental to peace efforts. And between the two neighboring NATO countries, lingering maritime and air border disputes are pushing the Air Force into near-daily patrols and interception missions, especially in the Greek islands off the coast of Turkey.