Turkey's military says two of its warplanes chased an Israeli aircraft that allegedly violated the airspace of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, where Turkey is exploring for oil and gas.
A military statement late Wednesday said the Israeli plane violated the airspace five times Monday until the two Turkish F-16 jets forced it to leave the area over the Turkish Cypriot north of the divided island.
The statement didn't identify the type of Israeli aircraft, and there was no immediate comment from Israeli officials.
Ties between Turkey and Israel have been strained by Israel's treatment of Palestinians and the discovery by Israel and Cyprus of huge offshore natural gas deposits.
Turkey opposes any energy search by Greek Cypriots, has dismissed a Cypriot-Israeli deal demarcating their maritime borders, and retaliated by signing exploration deals with the Turkish Cypriot
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