ANKARA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled to intercept two Syrian warplanes approaching to southern Turkey, said a Turkish military statement on its website on Sunday.

　　Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled Saturday to intercept two Syrian SU-24 fighter jets which came close to the south of Yayladagi town of Hatay province in southern Turkey, the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces said in the statement, adding that the Syrian fighter jets moved away only 2.2 sea miles to Turkish border.

　　Interception of jets between the two countries have increased since a Turkish warplane was shot down in 2012 by the Syrian army after it reportedly violated the Syrian airspace.

　　Turkey downed a Syrian MI-17 attack helicopter last September, saying that it made a 2-km incursion into its airspace while ignoring warnings.