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Turkey Downs Allegedly Intruding Russian Fighter Near Syria Border (reuters.com)

Posted by timothy on from the push-comes-to-missile dept.

jones_supa writes: Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian Sukhoi SU-24 fighter near the Syrian border on Tuesday after repeated warnings over airspace violations. Moscow said it could prove the jet had not left Syrian air space. Footage from private Turkish broadcaster Haberturk TV showed the warplane going down in flames in a woodland area. Separate footage from Turkey's Anadolu Agency showed two pilots parachuting out of the jet before it crashed. A Syrian rebel group sent a video to Reuters that appeared to show one of the pilots immobile and badly wounded on the ground and an official from the group said he was dead. This is the first time a NATO member's armed forces have downed a Russian military aircraft since the 1950s. The Guardian is following the developments with live updates. Also covered by the BBC, which notes Russian aircraft have flown hundreds of sorties over northern Syria since September. Moscow says they have targeted only "terrorists", but activists say its strikes have mainly hit Western-backed rebel groups. Turkey, a vehement opponent of Syria's president, has warned against violations of its airspace by Russian and Syrian aircraft. Last month, Ankara said Turkish F-16s had intercepted a Russian jet that crossed its border and two Turkish jets had been harassed by an unidentified Mig-29.

8 of 600 comments (clear)

  1. Turkey downing plane by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    If this claim is true, then Russians planes are shitty.

    (I'm turkish),

  2. Re:I have an idea by Major+Blud · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Didn't we elect someone to get us the hell out of some sandy region"

    No, but we did get free healthcare!

    --
    If you post as Anonymous Coward, don't expect a reply.
  3. Not X-Wing Fighter Here! And the Rebels bad guys! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    It's a junker, from the cold-war era, shot down by another junker, from the cold-war era. If it shows anything, it's that those old ruskie junkers still have the best WORKING ejection apparatus in the world, bar none! Needed since THEM's junkers always lose to US'es junkers.

    Turkey to Putin. Stay the FUCK OUT OF Turkey, turkey!

  4. Re:I have an idea by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    Didn't we elect someone to get us the hell out of some sandy region where everyone hates everyone else, and the only people they hate more is anyone who shows up to help?

    Texas?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  5. Re:I have an idea by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's totally different now. What about Anglo-German rivalry?

    Hang on a minute...

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  6. Re:I have an idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Downvoted for speaking the truth to progressives.

    No, downvoted for being a propaganda swallowing tool.

  7. Re:I have an idea by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have never met anyone nicer than a Texan.

    It's funny that you mention Texans in conjunction with blinkers, and I don't really believe your anecdote, because if someone appears to be using a turn signal in Texas either they bumped it by accident while reaching for their beer, or it was stuck on when they bought the car and it's still on.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  8. In Soviet Russia.... by Radical+Moderate · · Score: 3, Funny

    ....Turkey shoots you for Thanksgiving!

    Honestly, 325 posts and nobody pulled this out?

    --
    Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.