http://www.upi.com/...
There was no immediate Israeli response to reports by Turkish and Cypriot newspapers on Thursday's alleged incident.
But the face-off between Israel and onetime strategic ally Turkey has been escalating steadily in recent days, particularly when Turkey sent in the drilling ship, escorted by a navy frigate and a flight of warplanes, Monday.
Ankara was also reported to have deployed F-16 fighters to the Turkish-occupied northern sector of Cyprus, supposedly to bolster its recent naval build-up in the eastern Mediterranean.
The reports said the Turks scrambled two of the F-16s when the Israeli F-15s allegedly violated Cypriot air space.
The F-15s were intercepted and withdrew. No gunfire was reported but the Turks claimed an Israeli air force helicopter later hovered over the drilling ship, the Piri Reis.
Turkey is really pushing this to the brink of war, which isn't a surprise given what Turkey has been doing in the Aegean for the better of the last two decades without anyone so much as defending the territorial integrity of Greece.
In fact, NATO command used to laugh at Greece for complaining about Turkey constantly harassing Greek military positions and buzzing Greek tourist islands, but suddenly it's not so funny now that Israel is involved:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Asked about Turkey’s warning that it might send military ships toward Cyprus, which is exploring for natural gas in the Mediterranean, as is Israel, Mr. Rasmussen said that “NATO as an organization is not going to interfere with these disputes,” while adding, “I do not envisage armed conflict in the eastern part of the Mediterranean.”
Relations with Turkey have to be managed carefully as it asserts a growing role on the global stage, he suggested. “I think Turkey can play a stabilizing role in the region and serve as a role model for countries in the region that are currently transforming from dictatorship into democracy,” he said.
Too late, Anders, you have a full scale crisis on your hands.