A Turkish plane which was dropped by the Syrian anti- aircrafts last week asked for trouble as it entered Damascus’ airspace, a report said.

A Turkish plane which was dropped by the Syrian anti- aircrafts last week asked for trouble as it entered Damascus’ airspace, a report said.

The Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Russian source as saying: “The actions of the Turkish plane were no doubt a provocation. Otherwise how would you explain the fact that the fighter jet flew two, albeit short, sorties in the Syrian airspace?"

"The crew had to have only one motive for such actions -- to test the combat readiness of the Syrian air defense systems and it indeed tested them. And also to conduct a reconnaissance of the strength and capabilities of the Syrian air defense systems in the coastal direction," it said.

"In any case, the crew of the Turkish Phantom had tried hard to literally ask for the Syrian air defenses’ fire," the source was quoted as saying.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad assured on Tuesday the plane was downed after it entered the Syrian airspace.
As he regretted the downing of the jet, Assad rejected Turkey's accusations that the Syrian defense forces intentionally shot down the Turkish F-4 jet.

He said the plane was flying in an air corridor used three times in the past by the Israeli airforce.