Syria conflict: Turkish jets ‘intercept Russian plane’

Turkish F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after a Russian warplane violated Turkey’s air space on Saturday, the foreign ministry said. Russia said the incident was a “navigational error” and it has “clarified” the matter to Ankara. Turkish jets patrolling the border were also “harassed” by an unidentified plane on Sunday, Turkish military said. Russia has […]

Turkish F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after a Russian warplane violated Turkey’s air space on Saturday, the foreign ministry said.
Russia said the incident was a “navigational error” and it has “clarified” the matter to Ankara.
Turkish jets patrolling the border were also “harassed” by an unidentified plane on Sunday, Turkish military said.
Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said “the rules of engagement are clear,” whoever violates its airspace, according to Turkish TV.
The Turkish foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioglu, has spoken to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, as well as ministers from other Nato countries.
The Russian fighter plane “exited Turkish airspace into Syria” after being intercepted, the ministry said.
The Russian embassy in Ankara told the BBC that a Russian plane did violate Turkish airspace on Saturday.
Meanwhile, NATO has condemned Russian incursions into Turkish airspace as an “extreme danger” and demanded that Moscow halt all attacks against the Syrian opposition and civilians.
The alliance summoned the ambassadors of its 28 member states on Monday for an emergency meeting to respond to what Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called “unacceptable violations of Turkish air space.”