Turkey lets Armenian plane to proceed to Damascus after brief detention

The Turkish authorities on Thursday intercepted a Damascus-bound Armenian cargo plane at under suspicion of carrying weapons to the Syrian regime. After inspecting the Antonov AN 12 plane at Erzurum airport, east Turkey, earlier today and verifying that it carried no banned items, the authorities allowed it to proceed to its destination. The cargo of the plane was no more than food supplies to the Syrian people; it was destined for Aleppo, central north Syria, the Turkish media reported, citing statements by Armenian officials. The inspection of the plan is part of Ankara's efforts to prevent its airspace from being used to as military supply route for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.