Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled
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Turkey scrambled F-16s after Israeli fighter jets violated its airspace before they retreated following warnings, sparking national security concerns in Ankara.
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A Turkish Air Force pilot gestures from the cockpit of an F-16 military fighter jet before an Air Policing exercise at the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP)
Turkish fighter jets were scrambled after Israeli warplanes reportedly violated Turkish airspace, prompting an immediate military response and raising alert levels across the country, according to a report published by Turkey’s Doğruhaber newspaper.
The report stated that Turkish F-16s were launched to intercept the Israeli aircraft, issuing multiple radio warnings that ultimately forced the Israeli warplanes to retreat from Turkish airspace.
The Turkish Armed Forces also reportedly increased surveillance across the eastern frontier, activating round-the-clock early warning systems to monitor any renewed breach.
Doğruhaber described the incident as a "serious escalation," warning that the ongoing war, previously confined to the occupied Palestinian territories and Iran, now poses a direct threat to Turkey’s national security. The newspaper further suggested that the violation may have been a deliberate act to test Ankara’s air defense readiness.
Turkey ready for mediation alongside Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the latest geopolitical developments, particularly after "Israel" launched its war against Iran.
According to the Kremlin, both leaders condemned the Israeli occupation's aggression on Iran, stressing that the continuation of such assaults poses a significant threat to the region's security and stability.
The Turkish presidency noted that Erdogan described the situation as a "spiral of violence" initiated by Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, warning that it now represents a direct threat to regional peace. He called for an end to the war and the establishment of a foundation for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Separately, Erdogan spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, affirming Turkey's willingness to assume a facilitating role in halting the war and resuming nuclear negotiations at the earliest opportunity.
Iran to continue retaliation, power remains untapped
Iran will continue its military operations against the Israeli occupation regardless of whether Tel Aviv halts its strikes, the newly appointed Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, declared on Monday.
Pakpour, who succeeded the late General Hossein Salami following his martyrdom in recent Israeli strikes, emphasized that the Iranian response was far from over. “Even if the Israeli attacks stop, we will continue our mission to the end,” he asserted.
He added that the damage inflicted by Iranian strikes is far greater than what the Israeli regime has publicly acknowledged. “We have destroyed critical areas within the Israeli entity and will persist in our retaliation for their aggression,” Pakpour stated.
A senior advisor to the IRGC commander told Tasnim news agency that Iran has prepared for all possible scenarios and dismissed rumors suggesting that the Islamic Republic is running low on missile supplies.
He emphasized that Iran had yet to deploy its strategic missile arsenal. “Talk of our missile stockpiles running low is nothing more than a joke,” the advisor said, adding that the transfer of advanced equipment to the battlefield will occur only when the leadership deems it appropriate.
