Details sketchy – However, as previously anticipated this action could easily be seen as Turkish President Recep Erdogan working diligently to keep the ISIS supply lines open.
Remember, Turkey is a NATO member – if they engage in hostile actions with Russia, it could draw in other NATO allies….. Not Good. The insufferable Erdogan escaping Putin’s wrath by hiding behind the skirt of U.S., France, Germany and U.K
According to media reports (and video here) a Turkish F16 fighter has shot down a Russian made SU24 (also used by Syrian air force). Here’s the media outline from Reuters:
Turkish F-16 fighter jets shot down a war plane of unknown origin on Tuesday after it violated Turkish air space close to the Syrian border and ignored warnings, a Turkish military official told Reuters.
Separately, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s office said he had spoken with the chief of military staff and the foreign minister about developments on the border. The statement did not mention the downed jet. (link)
Excl: 2 pilots ejected from Sukhoi24 along Turkish border N of Latakia after Turkish F16 fires air to air missiles, downing plane. @FoxNews
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 24, 2015
Turkish government denies it shot down Russian plane, Turkish operators say it was their F16: source. @FoxNews
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 24, 2015
EXCL: 2 Russian pilots on ground having parachuted to safety, trying to evade capture after SU24 shot down by Turkish F16. @FoxNews
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 24, 2015
EXCL: US official confirms #Turkey F16 shot down #Russia warplane near #Syria border. @FoxNews
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 24, 2015
UPDATE: Turkish fighter jets shot down a warplane near the Syrian border after it violated Turkey’s airspace on Tuesday, a Turkish military official said, but the nationality of the downed aircraft was not immediately clear.
Both Russia and its ally, Syria’s government, have carried out strikes in the area. A Syrian military source said the reported downing was being investigated and Russia’s defense ministry was not immediately available for comment.
Turkish F16s warned the jet over the airspace violations before shooting it down, the military official told Reuters. (read more)
#BREAKING Russia says plane shot down by Turkey was in Syrian airspace
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 24, 2015
EXCL: Russian Su-24 was warned 3 times by Turks to get out of airspace. Direct hit. Near town of Hatay (North of Latakia). #Syria @FoxNews
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 24, 2015
#UPDATE Moscow confirms warplane downed on Syria border by Turkey was Russian Su-24
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 24, 2015
US official: 2 Russian pilots eject, trying to evade capture. Russian helicopters airborne to attempt rescue. #Syria @FoxNews
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 24, 2015