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Facebook ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  The crossing of two U.S. jets into Turkish airspace over the border with Iraq appears to have been inadvertent, a U.S. Embassy official said Monday, a day after the Turkish military complained of the incursion. The embassy official said the incident was under investigation. The Turkish military reported on its website Sunday that two F-16 jets roamed into the Turkish airspace for four minutes on Thursday, over the region of Uzumlu, in the province of Hakkari which borders Iraq. It said it had informed the Turkish Foreign Ministry of the violation, and asked it to take the appropriate steps. The U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with embassy rules, said that "at this point, it appears to be an inadvertent crossing into Turkish airspace, and we will take action as appropriate once the finding is complete." "We respect Turkish airspace; we have good relations with Turkey and take the issue very seriously," the embassy official said. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul played down the incident, saying Monday that such incursions occurred from time to time, NTV television reported. The incursion occurred amid intensified debate in Turkey about whether to conduct a cross-border operation into northern Iraq to pursue separatist Kurdish rebels who stage attacks inside Turkey from bases there. Turkish media have been reporting that the army was massing troops along the border, including in Uzumlu. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week he would back Turkey's generals if they decide to strike Kurdish rebels in Iraq. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Share this story: Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.