Erdoğan, Hollande agree there is no need to escalate tension between Turkey, Russia

President Erdoğan held a phone conversation with his French counterpart Hollande on Wednesday regarding the downed Russian jet, during which the both leaders said that there was "no need to increase the tension" in the region.

Presidential sources indicated that Hollande expressed support for Turkey's right to defend its soil during the phone call.

Both leaders reportedly emphasized the importance of the fight against the Daesh terrorist organization to ensure Syria's political transition period.

On Tuesday, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets on an aerial patrol intercepted a Russian warplane within engagement rules when it intruded Turkish airspace near the Turkey-Syria border.

The intruding aircraft was warned about the violation 10 times within five minutes before it was shot down.

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed that one of its Russian SU-24 fighter jets had been shot down, crashing in the Syrian region of Bayırbucak, close to the Yayladagı district of Turkey's southern Hatay province.

NATO confirmed the accuracy of the radar trace data that Turkey shared which clearly showed that the Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace.