A Syrian military jet has been intercepted near the Syrian-Turkish border after it violated the Turkish airspace, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. Conflicting reports said the jet was shot down from the ground and crashed on the Syrian side.

The Syrian Air Force jet was shot down near the Kasab crossing in Latakia province, where fierce fighting between Syrian forces and armed insurgents has been going on for three days, Reuters reported.

The General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces issued a statement saying the downed jet flew 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) into Turkish airspace despite warnings. According to the statement, two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets approached the Turkish border. When the jets came within 10 nautical miles of the border, Turkish forces sent out four warning signals. One of the MiGs left, while the other was intercepted by two Turkish F-16s after breaching the airspace, the General Staff claimed.

The statement noted that the jet went down 1,200 meters to the south of the border on the Syrian territory in Kasab region, adding that Turkish border guards observed its fall.