Turkey says another Russian jet violated its airspace

Ankara summons Moscow’s ambassador, warns that ‘irresponsible behavior’ will lead to ‘dire’ consequences

By Agencies and ToI Staff 30 January 2016, 8:09 pm

Edit

Screen capture of a bomb being released from a Russian Su-34 strike fighter in Syria, taken from footage made available on the Russian Defense Ministry official website, October 9, 2015. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP, File)

Turkey on Saturday accused Russia of a new violation of its airspace, warning Moscow against “irresponsible behavior.”

The allegation came two months after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on the Syrian border on November 24, saying it had violated its airspace.

“A Su-34 plane belonging to the Russian Federation air force violated Turkish airspace at 11:46 (0946 GMT) local time yesterday (Friday),” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the plane was warned in Russian and in English before entering Turkey’s airspace, and Moscow would be held responsible for any “dire” consequences.

Ankara on Friday summoned the Russian ambassador to the foreign ministry to “strongly protest and condemn” the latest alleged violation, the ministry added, without specifying where it took place.

Ankara called on Russia to “act responsibly” and warned: “We stress once again that all the responsibility for any unwanted grave consequences as a result of any such irresponsible behavior will belong entirely to the Russian Federation.”

Moscow and Ankara are currently experiencing their worst relations since the end of the Cold War.

In addition to the November 24 incident which sparked a bitter diplomatic row, the two countries back opposing sides in Syria’s almost five-year civil war, with Russia a key supporter of the Damascus regime, while Turkey argues that the ouster of President Bashar Assad is essential to solving the Syrian crisis.