Turkey Shoots Down Russian Warplane Near Border With Syria

NATO member Turkey shot down a Russian warplane after it violated the country’s airspace near the Syrian border on Tuesday, officials said.

 

The Russian aircraft was warned 10 times in five minutes before being fired upon, according to the Turkish air force.

 

A U.S. military spokesperson in Baghdad backed the assertion that the Turks warned Russian pilots they were in Turkish airspace before shooting down the aircraft.

 

“I can confirm that, yes,” Col. Steve Warren told a briefing but could not say whether the incursion was deliberate.

 

He added that the U.S. did not observe the shoot down and did not have any American personnel in the area at the time, but heard what transpired because the aircraft were operating on open channels.

 

Read More: Turkey Shoots Down Russian Warplane Near Border With Syria – NBC News