Even as the ownership remains in confusion, Turkish warplanes shot down an unidentified drone in Turkish air space near Syria on Friday.
While a US official said that Washington suspected that the unidentified drone belonged to the Russian army, the Russian defense ministry clarified that all of its planes in Syria had safely returned to base along with all the drones which were declared to be operating “as planned”.
Quoting an unnamed Syrian military official, the Lebanon-based pro-Syrian Al-Mayadeen TV said that that no Syrian or Russian warplane or drone was shot down over Turkey.
As Syrian, Russian and US coalition aircraft fly combat missions so close to its borders, the shooting down of the drone clearly demonstrates the Turkey, a member of Nato, faces form the air exercises.
The drone continued to flying even after three warnings were issued to the aircraft by its jets, said the Turkish military, following which the drone was shot down. This, the Turkish military claimed, was in line with its rules of engagement.
The drone had flown three kilometers into Turkish airspace, said the Broadcaster NTV
“It’s a drone. We are trying to identify its nationality,” said a senior Turkish government official.
While declining to give any details to news agency Reuters, a US official said that Washington suspected it was a Russian drone.
Earlier this month, Russian jest reportedly violated Turkish air space on two occasions ad there were warnings issued by Turkey that if would respond if the incursions are repeated.
A Syrian military jet, a helicopter and an unmanned surveillance drone that have strayed into Turkish airspace has been shot down by Turkey since in 2013. Following the downing of a Turkish fighter jet by Syria, Turkey had changed its rules of engagement and then the three downings.
For the first time since the Second World War, Nato planes are now flying combat missions in the same air space as Russian planes conducting air strikes in Syria.
Russia air force has officially informed Turkey military on Thursday about the steps it would take with regards to Russian fighter jets’ violations of Turkish airspace earlier this month.
In the recent months, Turkey has complained of Syria-based missile air defense systems harassing its warplanes several times as well as reported unidentified aircraft in its airspace.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting of leaders of ex-Soviet nations in Kazakhstan on Friday, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said on Friday that that the Russian military has achieved “impressive” results during the air campaign in Syria that began on 30 September and that the Russian airstrikes in Syria have killed hundreds of militants. Without much of an elaboration, Putin said the air strikes would continue “for the period of the Syrian troops’ offensive operations against terrorists,”.
On Friday, Russian warplanes hit areas in support of the army's offensive south of Aleppo, which lies around 35 km (20 miles) from the Turkish border. This assault now means that Syria has opened up a number of front against the insurgents near Syria's main cities in the west. This area is of special interest to President Assad of Syria to secure his hold on power even if the east of the country is still held by Islamic State or the Isis.
(Sources:www.theguardian.com & www.reuters.com)
While a US official said that Washington suspected that the unidentified drone belonged to the Russian army, the Russian defense ministry clarified that all of its planes in Syria had safely returned to base along with all the drones which were declared to be operating “as planned”.
Quoting an unnamed Syrian military official, the Lebanon-based pro-Syrian Al-Mayadeen TV said that that no Syrian or Russian warplane or drone was shot down over Turkey.
As Syrian, Russian and US coalition aircraft fly combat missions so close to its borders, the shooting down of the drone clearly demonstrates the Turkey, a member of Nato, faces form the air exercises.
The drone continued to flying even after three warnings were issued to the aircraft by its jets, said the Turkish military, following which the drone was shot down. This, the Turkish military claimed, was in line with its rules of engagement.
The drone had flown three kilometers into Turkish airspace, said the Broadcaster NTV
“It’s a drone. We are trying to identify its nationality,” said a senior Turkish government official.
While declining to give any details to news agency Reuters, a US official said that Washington suspected it was a Russian drone.
Earlier this month, Russian jest reportedly violated Turkish air space on two occasions ad there were warnings issued by Turkey that if would respond if the incursions are repeated.
A Syrian military jet, a helicopter and an unmanned surveillance drone that have strayed into Turkish airspace has been shot down by Turkey since in 2013. Following the downing of a Turkish fighter jet by Syria, Turkey had changed its rules of engagement and then the three downings.
For the first time since the Second World War, Nato planes are now flying combat missions in the same air space as Russian planes conducting air strikes in Syria.
Russia air force has officially informed Turkey military on Thursday about the steps it would take with regards to Russian fighter jets’ violations of Turkish airspace earlier this month.
In the recent months, Turkey has complained of Syria-based missile air defense systems harassing its warplanes several times as well as reported unidentified aircraft in its airspace.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting of leaders of ex-Soviet nations in Kazakhstan on Friday, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said on Friday that that the Russian military has achieved “impressive” results during the air campaign in Syria that began on 30 September and that the Russian airstrikes in Syria have killed hundreds of militants. Without much of an elaboration, Putin said the air strikes would continue “for the period of the Syrian troops’ offensive operations against terrorists,”.
On Friday, Russian warplanes hit areas in support of the army's offensive south of Aleppo, which lies around 35 km (20 miles) from the Turkish border. This assault now means that Syria has opened up a number of front against the insurgents near Syria's main cities in the west. This area is of special interest to President Assad of Syria to secure his hold on power even if the east of the country is still held by Islamic State or the Isis.
(Sources:www.theguardian.com & www.reuters.com)
