An Israeli 'Heron' unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying over Turkey was nearly shot down, according to reports published Tuesday by the Turkish newspaper Taraf. According to the Turkish daily, the drone was operating as part of an IDF surveillance mission. Taraf reported that the Israeli drone was flying over the 14th Hawk B. Brigade Command in the Kırıkhan district, situated along border between Turkey and neighboring Syria. According to Taraf, the drone circled the skies above the brigade command post for around four hours, supposedly in an effort to capture images of radar equipment and missile batteries. The Turkish Air Force deployed two F-16 fighter jets to the area in an attempt to track the drone, yet no contact was made between the aircraft. According to Israel Radio, the drone was able to slip out of range because a Turkish order to intercept it was delayed. According to the Israeldefense.co.il web site, the IDF has categorically denied Turkish reports of an Israeli drone in their airspace.
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Once-warm ties between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated in recent years. The diplomatic row began after Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip in late 2008 and peaked with the May 2010 clash between Israeli commandos and pro-Palestinian activists on the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara ship that resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals. Israeli soldiers who boarded the Gaza-bound ship were forced to open fire after being attacked with clubs and knives by the activists. Turkey demanded that Israel apologize for the deaths, which Israel refused to do. Turkey responded by downgrading its diplomatic ties with Israel.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was set to visit Tehran on Wednesday for talks with his Iranian counterpart on Iran's nuclear program and developments in neighboring Iraq and Syria, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday.
Ahmet Davutoglu's visit was described as being in the framework of regular talks between the two ministers, but it comes at a key time for the region and relations between the two regional powers.
"It is intended that they will exchange views on topical subjects such as Iran's nuclear programme and developments in Syria and Iraq," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
Davutoglu's visit was set to finish on Thursday.
Turkey is evaluating whether to seek a waiver from the United States to exempt Turkish oil importer Tupras from new U.S. sanctions on institutions that deal with Iran's central bank, a Turkish official said on Tuesday.
U.S. ally Turkey is among the biggest buyers of Iranian oil and gas. It gets about 30 percent of its oil from neighbor Iran, and Tupras, Turkey's biggest crude oil importer is a big buyer of Iranian crude.
The United States has armed itself with tough measures targeting financial institutions that deal with Iran's central bank, the main clearinghouse through which OPEC's No. 2 oil exporter deals with clients around the world.
The law, signed by President Barack Obama on Saturday, allows the U.S. to exempt institutions in a country that has significantly reduced its dealings with Iran. Obama may also grant waivers deemed to be in the U.S. national interest or otherwise necessary for energy market stability.
Turkey is bound by U.N. sanctions against Iran, though it opposed the last round of measures in 2010, and it insists it is not obliged to follow non-U.N. sanctions.
Iran threatened on Tuesday to take action if the U.S. Navy moves an aircraft carrier into the Gulf, Tehran's most aggressive statement yet after weeks of sabre-rattling as new U.S. and EU financial sanctions take a toll on its economy.
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