ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The U.S. military says it has deployed six F-15C jets to Turkey's southern Incirlik air base to help defend Turkish airspace against potential intruders.

The deployment of the air-to-air combat planes, announced Friday, comes after two Russian warplanes active in Syria strayed into Turkish airspace last month, triggering protests from Turkey and its NATO allies.

The deployment sends a message of NATO's resolve to protect its members following the Russian warplane's intrusion.

A U.S.-European command statement said the deployment was in response to Turkey's request for support in securing its airspace.

It said the deployment was a "demonstration of our unwavering support for Turkish sovereignty and the collective security of the region."