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NATO has sent a Boeing EA-3A Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) surveillance aircraft over Turkish airspace as part of its effort to reassure Ankara, a member of NATO that the alliance seeks to preserve its security and territorial integrity amid the ongoing war in neighboring Syria."In line with the Syria crisis and developments taking place in the region and within the content of reassurance measures for Turkey, a NATO AWACS plane has begun conducting [monitoring] duty in Turkish airspace from March 12 to March 15," read a Turkish General Staff statement late on Saturday."These duties are planned to be conducted regularly and within certain periods in the coming months too," the statement added according to Hurriyet News.Turkey's lengthy border with Syria is porous and volatile. Turkish towns and cities near it have been hit by spillover from the Syrian conflict. Primarily by mortars and rockets, some stray and others intentionally targeting them. Turkey's Kilis Province has been hit in recent weeks killing tens of people. Turkey retaliated by firing artillery back over the border at positions they say belonged to the Islamic State (ISIS).This NATO mission however is aimed at monitoring Turkish airspace as part of the alliance pledge to secure Turkey's airspace from any further violations of its airspace from Russian and/or Syrian jets. A Russian warplane was infamously shot down by the Turkish Air Force late last November after it briefly strayed into Turkish airspace for 17 seconds. Another infiltration in December prompted NATO to give its ally these assurances.