According to a statement issued by the Turkish military, Ankara has sent scrambled F-16 jets to the border with Syria after Damascus' helicopters flew within six kilometres of the border with Turkey.

Sunday's announcement comes days after Turkey said it would treat any approach by Syrian forces near its border as a direct threat in response to the downing of a Turkish reconnaissance plane late last month.

The AFP news agency is reporting that Turkey has reinforced its border with anti-aircraft guns and other weapons.