Turkish Air Force declares ‘orange alert’

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul Ataturk Airport before his departure for Chile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the violation of Turkish airspace, which he also described as NATO airspace, was a result of Russian attempts to escalate existing tension in the region, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkey releases audio of ‘warning’ to downed Russia jet

In another twist to developments, Turkey has apparently capitulated and offered a lengthy apology.

The Turkish military has released an audio recording of what it says were warnings to a Russian warplane before it was shot down on the Syrian border.

“Change your heading south immediately,” a voice apparently says in English. Turkey said it had tried to rescue the SU-24 bomber’s two pilots.

Putin warns Turkey there will be ‘serious consequences’ for ‘stabbing Russia in the back’ by shooting down one of its jets… as video emerges of rebels chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ over the body of dead pilot

Conflicting stories: Turkey claims they shot the plane down as it was violating the country’s airspace after the pilots ignored ‘ten warnings in the space of five minutes’, but Russia says the jet was in Syrian airspace

 

 

• Turkish army has shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 war plane near its Syrian border, officials confirm
• The Russian jet had violated Turkish air space and ignored ten warnings in five minutes, army says
• Putin called Turkey’s decision to shoot down the plane a ‘stab in the back by the terrorists’ accomplices’
• Russia claims the jet, which crashed in Syria’s Turkomen Mountains, had been in Syrian airspace when it was hit
• In response, Turkish army released flight tracking data showing where the jet violated its airspace
• One pilot dead, the other reportedly captured by Turkmen – ethnic Turks subjected to Russian airstrikes this week

Turkey’s military have today shot down a Russian war plane near its border with Syria after the jet violated Turkish air space.

The Russian Sukhoi Su-24 jet was shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter planes after ignoring nearly a dozen warnings, Turkish army officials said.

President Vladimir Putin called Turkey’s decision to down the plane a ‘stab in the back by the terrorists’ accomplices’, as his Defence Ministry still claims the jet was in Syrian airspace.

‘The loss we suffered today came from a stab in the back delivered by accomplices of the terrorists,’ President Putin said, speaking at a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday afternoon.

Media: Warplane crashes in Syria on border with Turkey

Update: Moscow has now confirmed the warplane was Russian.

See the following link: Russia confirms its warplane shot down by Turkey. Pilots ejected (DEBKAfile)

 

The plane fell in the area of Kizildag mountains where Syrian Turkmens live and fighting is underway between the opposition forces and the Syrian government troops. The TV channel has transmitted a video in which the plane bursts into flames, goes into dive and crashes.

Russian aircraft approach USS Ronald Reagan, prompting US fighter jet scramble

Another day, another Russian provocation. At least this time they were polite enough not to shut off the carrier like they did the USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea — which you do not hear about in this article.

 

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and South Korean navy ships steam in formation during an exercise Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in international waters to the east of the Korean Peninsula. Two Russian aircraft flew within one nautical mile at a height of 500 feet, prompting the carrier to launch four fighter jets in response. The Russian aircraft left without further incident. Nathan Burke/U.S. Navy

 

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The USS Ronald Reagan scrambled its fighter jets earlier this week after two Russian naval reconnaissance aircraft flew within one nautical mile of the U.S. aircraft carrier as it sailed in international waters east of the Korean Peninsula, according to 7th Fleet officials.

In the latest in a series of incidents involving Russian aircraft, two Tupolev Tu-142 Bear aircraft flew as low as 500 feet Tuesday morning near the Reagan, which has been conducting scheduled maneuvers with South Korean navy ships. Four F/A-18 Super Hornets took off from the Reagan’s flight deck in response to the Russian advance, 7th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Lauren Cole said Thursday.

Russian jet SHOT DOWN by Turkey after it flew into their airspace, according to reports

If proven to be true, it means the possibility of WWIII was just put to the test. Russia is provoking and testing for a response.

A Russian retaliation means an attack on Turkey. An attack on Turkey means an attack on all NATO members according to Article 5. An attack on NATO essentially means an attack on the United States which essentially is the backbone of the organization. You get the picture…

Ironically, the last American aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf is now leaving, leaving a perfect opportunity for adversaries to launch an attack.

 

 

 

A RUSSIAN jet has been shot down by Turkish forces after it flew into the country’s airspace, according to as yet unconfirmed reports circulating on social media.

According to reports, eyewitnesses saw a large explosion in Huraytan, northern Syria, while three fighter jets were hovering above.

One journalist tweeted that three Turkish planes were responding to “mysterious” lock-ons from Mig-29 jets, which are used by Putin’s forces.

Erdogan warns Russia against losing Turkey’s friendship

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned Russia against losing Ankara’s friendship, after Russian warplanes twice violated its airspace near the Syrian border.

“If Russia loses a friend like Turkey with whom it has a lot of cooperation it is going to lose a lot of things. It needs to know this,” Erdogan said in Belgium at a press conference alongside Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel broadcast on Turkish television.

Russia Violates Turkish Airspace Again in Direct Challenge to NATO

Russia has now violated Turkish airspace on two separate occasions, according to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Ankara’s move to Chinese air systems appals NATO allies

Ankara leans toward selecting Chinese long-range anti-missile and air defense systems while NATO allies look shocked by the possibility of the decision

Turkey’s western allies look puzzled by a looming decision by Ankara to select Chinese long-range anti-missile and air defense systems which they think cannot be integrated into the NATO-sponsored early warning architecture currently deployed on Turkish soil.

“That would certainly leave many of us speechless,” said one senior diplomat from a NATO country. “Turkey has every right to choose its own air defense system but we do not quite understand the logic of opting for a Chinese system with no interoperability with the existing [NATO] assets.”

Turkey scrambles F-16 jets on Syria border

Turkey has scrambled six F-16 fighters jets near its border with Syria after Syrian helicopters came close to the border, the country’s army says.

Six jets were sent to the area in response to three such incidents on Saturday, the statement said, adding that there was no violation of Turkish airspace.

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The incident further strained already tense relations between former allies.

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On Friday, Turkey said it had begun deploying rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns along the border in response to the downing of its F-4 Phantom jet on 22 June.

The move came after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey had changed its rules of military engagement and would now treat any Syrian military approaching the border as a threat.

Full article: Turkey scrambles F-16 jets on Syria border (BBC)