Turkey confirmed on Sunday that Turkish planes were carrying out a mission in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean and were targeted by Greece’s S-300 air defense system, condemning the hostile action.
According to sources on the island of Rhodes, the Greek air defense system based in Crete “shut down” the sensors installed on the Turkish F-16 planes that were carrying out a reconnaissance mission at an altitude of 10,000 feet west of the island of Rhodes last Tuesday. Ministry of Defense of Turkey
The sources emphasized that this action is a “hostile action” under the rules of engagement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
But the Turkish planes “performed their mission and returned safely to their base.”
But sources in the Greek Ministry of Defense denied these Turkish accusations.
ERT television channel quoted these sources as saying: Greece’s S-300 air defense system has never turned off (the sensors of) Turkish F-16s.
In recent months, Turkey has complained about Greece’s actions, which it described as provocative and harmful to peace efforts.
And disputes over maritime and air borders between the two NATO neighbors force the air force to conduct near-daily patrols and intercept missions, particularly in the vicinity of the Greek islands off the Turkish coast.
Athena accuses Ankara of sending its planes to fly over Greek islands.
Turkey, for its part, insists that Greece is massing its troops in the Aegean islands, which is against the peace treaties concluded after the two world wars.
Source: Lebanon Debate
