Syria has accused Ankara of "flagrant aggression" after Turkey shot down a warplane near the border, raising tensions as Syrian loyalists and rebels battle for control of a frontier crossing.
Turkey, which backs the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, warned Damascus against testing its determination and pledged a tough response if Syrian warplanes violate its airspace again.
It was the most serious incident since Turkish warplanes last September downed a Syrian helicopter that Ankara said was 2km inside its airspace.
A Syrian military source said Turkey shot down the warplane "in a flagrant act of aggression that is evidence of (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's support for terrorist groups".
The aircraft "was chasing terrorist groups inside Syrian territory at Kasab", said the source, referring to the disputed border crossing. The pilot was able to eject.
Since Friday, Syrian troops and rebels have been fighting for control of Kasab border post in the northwestern province of Latakia, a regime stronghold.
The battle erupted after three jihadist groups, including al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front, announced the launch of an offensive on Tuesday in Latakia dubbed "Anfal", or "spoils of war".
Erdogan and Turkish President Abdullah Gul praised Turkey's military for downing the warplane.
Ankara has notified the UN and NATO, it said.
Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz warned Turkey had the "strength" and "capacity" to protect its borders.
Erdogan also warned Syria against any response saying: "Our response will be heavy if you violate our airspace."
The Turkish military said two Syrian MIG-23 planes approaching its airspace were warned "four times" to turn away and that it scrambled fighter jets when one refused to do so and violated Turkish airspace.
A statement said an F-16 jet fired a missile at the Syrian plane which fell inside Syria.
Turkey toughened its rules of engagement after the downing of one of its warplanes by the Syrian air force in June 2012 and considers any military approach of its border from Syria a threat.
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