Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey’s military has reversed its finding that Syria
downed a Turkish fighter-jet in June.

Turkey’s media reported a military investigation into the crash of a
Turkish Air Force F-4E aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea.

The probe asserted that the U.S.-origin fighter-jet was not shot down by Syrian air defense batteries.

“The General Staff always provides correct and timely information to
both the government and the public,” a Turkish military statement said on Aug. 9.

On July 13, the General Staff said the F-4 was shot down by the Syrian military. But on Aug. 10 Turkey’s Hurriyet daily said a military
investigation, which examined 20 pieces of aircraft debris, found no
evidence that the F-4 was shot down on June 22.

Another Turkish newspaper, Taraf, also disputed the July report by the General Staff. Taraf said the F-4 was shot down over Syrian waters rather than in Turkish territory.

“The government is now looking for the ones responsible for the
misinformation,” Taraf said.

The Turkish military has not clarified what downed the F-4. In July, the
military said the aircraft was not struck by Syrian surface-to-air missiles.

  crashed into Mediterranean, Turkey changes its story: Syria did not shoot down F-4, Turkish Air Force F-4E, Turkish General Staff