Turkish F-16 Shoots Down Syria’s L-39 Warplane

A Syrian L-39 light attack aircraft was shot down by the Turkish military on Tuesday amidst ongoing escalating tensions in the region.

“As part of Operation Spring Shield, an L-39 warplane belonging to the region has been destroyed,” Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said in a tweet.

Syrian state news agency SANA confirmed that a regime plane had been targeted, but did not say whether it had been shot down.

The Turkish F-16 targeted the L-39 plane over Idlib province, a source from Syrian defense ministry was quoted as saying by media.

“In the last 24 hours, we have destroyed one aircraft, one drone, 6 tanks, 5 howitzers, 2 air defense systems, 3 armored vehicles, 6 military vehicles and an ammunition depot of the Syrian regime. In addition, 327 personnel were neutralized,” the ministry said on Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday, Defense Minister of Turkey Hulusi Akar told Anadolu Agency that Turkish forces have destroyed 2 Syrian Su-24 jets, 2 drones, 135 tanks, and 5 air defense systems besides "neutralising" over 2,500 Syrian personnel.