Turkey accuses Greece of ‘hostile action’ against jets
Turkey yesterday alleged fellow Nato member Greece has used a Russian-made air defence system to harass Turkish jets on a reconnaissance mission, calling it a "hostile action".
The incident took place on August 23 when Greece's S-300 missile system deployed on the island of Crete put a lock on Turkish F-16 jets flying at 10,000 feet west of Rhodes, Turkish defence ministry sources said.
That was "incompatible with the spirit of (Nato) alliance" and amounted to "hostile acts" under the Nato rules of engagement, the sources added.
"Despite this hostile action, (Turkish) jets completed their planned missions and returned to their base safely."
Turkey has in recent months complained of what it calls provocative actions by Greece, saying such moves undermine peace efforts.
The two uneasy Nato neighbours have long-standing sea and air boundary disputes which lead to near-daily air force patrols and interception missions mostly around Greek islands near Turkey's coastline.
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