Syria declares its readiness to shoot down Turkish military aircraft
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told reporters that the Syrian Air Defense Forces have been restored, and are capable of shooting down any Turkish aircraft in the airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic.
"We warn that Syria’s air force has completely resumed its former capability, and is ready to destroy Turkish air targets in the skies above the Syrian Arab Republic; this means that, in case of aggression against Syria, [it would be] no picnic," said Mekdad.
On Wednesday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag stated that Ankara was holding consultations with Moscow and Washington over a possible operation in Afrin, Syria against armed formations of Syrian-Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization associated with the currently-banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). According to media reports, Turkey has led its troops toward the border with Syria in a state of increased combat readiness.