Turkey demands Israeli answers on flyover

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Israel agreed to investigate charges that its air force illicitly entered Turkish territory.

Syria said last week that Israeli warplanes had overflown its turf on a secret mission that also took them through Turkey – a charge that met with silence in Jerusalem.

Over the weekend, Turkey said it had discovered aerial fuel tanks that apparently had been dumped by combat planes near its border with Syria. Faced with questions from Turkey, Israel’s main ally in the Muslim world, Israel appeared more forthcoming about the mysterious sortie.

“Israel has stated that in the shortest time it will investigate this issue and give us information,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told reporters Monday while hosting his Syrian counterpart in Ankara. “This situation is unacceptable for Turkey.”

Israeli officials declined comment on their contacts with Turkey.

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