Armenian Ministry of Defense says a Turkish F-16 from Ganja airbase, Azerbaijan,shot down an Armenian Su-25 fighter jet this morning, resulting in the death of the pilot.
The Turkish F-16 was operating out of an Azerbaijani airbasе. This is the first direct confrontation between Armenia and Turkey – and also a dramatic escalation.
Press secretary of the minister of Defence of Armenia, Shushan Stepanyan told the news in a tweet.
“Тoday, at around 10:30 am, F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force took off from the “Ganja” airport from the Republic of Azerbaijan and ensured the delivery of bombing and missile strikes against settlements and ground units of the Armenian Armed Forces, Shushan Stepanyan said in her tweet.”
“During this period, the air defense units of the RA AF carried out SAM missile fire. While the F-16 was performing a combat mission during anti-aircraft fire and the ensuing air battles, the Turkish fighter shot down a Su-25 fighter of the RA Air Force in the airspace of the RA, Stepanyan added.”
Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have rejected claims that a Turkish F-16 downed an Armenian Su-25.