Syria Reportedly Downs Turkish F-4

A Turkish Air Force F-4 Phantom reportedly lost contact with its base while operating in the Mediterranean just off the Turkish province of Hatay, and reports indicate that Syrian air defenses brought it down in Syrian territorial waters. There are unconfirmed reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters that Syria has expressed regret over the incident.

With Turkish support for and apparent arming Syrian rebels, an incident such as this obviously creates a potential for escalation. This situation bears watching though so far both sides appear to be avoiding any belligerent posturing. But it also underscores the risk of escalation ftom the ongoing conflict inside Syria.