In a bizarre turn of events which is likely to seriously escalate the tension between NATO forces and Russia, Turkish military downed a Russia-owned Su-24 fighter jet, claiming it violated Turkish airspace near Syrian border. NATO-member Turkey has confirmed that it shot down the Russian warplane after the latter "ignored repeated warnings". However, Russia denies that the plane actually crossed the Syrian border and flew into Turkish skies.
The area where the fighter jet was downed is a conflict zone where Bashar al-Assad's forces are fighting the Syrian rebels, while Russia is carrying out surgical strikes since October this year to tackle the rising menace of ISIS and other splinter terrorist groups. The region has been under frequent aerial assaults from both Russian and Syrian air forces.
Russian ministry of defence has issued a statement saying the Su-24 was downed by artillery fire, which came from F-16s owned by Turkey. The ministry has added: "We are looking into the circumstances of the crash of the Russian jet. The Ministry of Defence would like to stress that the plane was over the Syrian territory throughout the flight."
#SYRIA Russian aircraft Su-24 crashed in Syria. According to the preliminary data, the pilots managed to eject from the warplane
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 24, 2015
Suriye sınırında uçağın düşme anı pic.twitter.com/RZ3mqUUYOE
— ANADOLU AJANSI (@anadoluajansi) November 24, 2015
Turkish F-16s Shoot Down Russian Su-24 Warplane Near Syria Border, pilots may have been captured by Turkmen forces https://t.co/g6d7LHV7ez
— Pieter Cleppe (@pietercleppe) November 24, 2015
#Turkey-#NATO attempting to start #WWIII this morning... https://t.co/740cKAZF0v
— Pól Ó Géibheannaigh (@pol_og) November 24, 2015
#UPDATE #Turkey Calls For Consultation With @NATO & #US After Shot Down A #Russian Su-24 Jet - Report. pic.twitter.com/IA9kTuMY3k
— Terrormonitor.org (@Terror_Monitor) November 24, 2015
Full dramatic video of the Russian Su-24 that was shot down today. https://t.co/2QMEOuWjjZ
— Livefist (@livefist) November 24, 2015
BREAKING: Interfax reports that jet shot down by Turkey was Russian Su-24 and condition of pilots is unknown. pic.twitter.com/rxRijIwmSa
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) November 24, 2015
Now Russian TV reports it: quotes Russian defence ministry as saying a Russian SU-24 was shot down, "hadn't violated Turkish airspace"
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) November 24, 2015
Confirmed: Turkey has shot down Russian Su-24... I was right, which isn't good. This is a HUGE escalation.
— Nick Short (@PoliticalShort) November 24, 2015
#SYRIA #DAGMASHLIYA Three Russian journalists were slightly injured at the front line of the Syrian governmental army during an attack
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 24, 2015
#SYRIA #DAGMASHLIYA Three Russian journalists were slightly injured at the front line of the Syrian governmental army during an attack
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 24, 2015
#SYRIA All the journalists returned to #Hmeymim airbase where they are rendered qualified medical assistance
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 24, 2015