Ankara intends to turn to NATO because Greece used the S-300 air defense system against Turkish F-16 fighter jets, Yeni Safak newspaper of Turkey reported, citing a high-ranking source in the Turkish security service.

"It [i.e.., the incident] will be discussed in the meetings with both the US and NATO. There is a recording device on the planes, and there are recordings, the evidence will be handed over to the relevant instances... While we are being told 'You can't use Russian-made weapons,' Greece is chasing the planes of a NATO member country... Let's see what NATO will say in relation to this situation," the source said.

CNN Turk on Sunday reported, referring to a source at the Turkish defense ministry, that Greece had used S-300 air defense systems to intercept and escort the Turkish F-16s. It happened on August 23, when these Turkish warplanes were located west of Rhodes, at an altitude of about three kilometers. The Turkish media reported that "despite these hostile actions, the planes performed the planned tasks and successfully returned to their bases."

Sources at the Greek defense ministry, however, have categorically denied Turkey's allegations that Athens used its S-300s against the Turkish F-16s flying over Crete, newsbomb.gr portal reported.