IMAGE: Russian-made warplane in flames after being hit by Turkish fire near Syrian border on Tuesday
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UPDATE 1650 GMT: Turkey and Russia have exchanged diplomatic punches this afternoon.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has cancelled a visit to Ankara which had been scheduled for Wednesday. He warned Russians not to travel to Turkey, “According to our estimations, the [terrorist] threat is no less than in Egypt.”
The Russian Defence Ministry summoned the Turkish Embassy’s Defense Attache to protest the downing of the Su-24 jet.
“The Russian plane did not cross the Turkish border and operated exclusively against facilities in Syrian territory. We consider the actions of the Turkish Air Force to be an unfriendly act,” the statement reads [in Russian]
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu refused to give ground, “The entire world should be aware and sure that we’ll do whatever necessary in order to ensure our country’s peace and security within all this ring of fire, in order to maintain peace in Turkey and around.”
Turkey’s media reminded readers that the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador and Military Attache last Thursday because of Moscow’s bombing of Turkmens in northwest Syria. The Ministry said the operations threatened Turkey’s border security and warned it would respond to any violation of rules of engagement.
Ankara also reminded Russia that the area was free of “Islamic State and other terrorist groups” while Turkmen civilians were being harmed and fleeing their homes.
UPDATE 1630 GMT: The Free Syrian Army’s 1st Coastal Division claims that it struck one of the Russian helicopters pursuing a search-and-rescue mission for the two pilots from the downed Su-24 jet:
Some claims say that the helicopter made an emergency landing on a regime-held hill near the frontline with rebels in northern Latakia Province (see map). Others say that it had landed and was hit while on the ground with a TOW missile.
UPDATE 1255 GMT: Russian President Putin has said that Moscow was “stabbed in the back by the accomplices of terrorism” with Tuesday’s downing of one of Moscow’s warplanes.
Putin called for the world to “unite against a common evil…with the participation of all the countries in the region”.
The President said the Su-24 was downed by an air-to-air missile fired by the Turkish F-16 fighters. He claimed the Russian warplane was 1 km (0.6 miles) inside Syria when it was struck.
He emphasized, “We will never allow crimes like this to happen.”
UPDATE 1215 GMT: Claimed images and video of the body of one of the Russian pilots, surrounded by Syrian rebels, are circulating on social media.
Claimed footage of Syrian rebels shooting at the pilots as they descended in parachutes:
The deputy commander of a Turkmen force claimed that his men hit the pilots where they were in the air, killing both of them.
UPDATE 0850 GMT: The Turkish President has confirmed that the downed Su-24 fighter jet “belongs to Russia“.
The Russian Defense Ministry has also reportedly confirmed the news:
#BREAKING
#Russia Defense Minister: "SU-24 jet was Russian. 2 pilots parachuted out and we can prove our jet was in #Syria airspace"
— AEJ خليل ้้้้้็็็็ (@AEJKhalil) November 24, 2015
ORIGINAL ENTRY: A Russian-made warplane has crashed in northwest Syria after reportedly violating Turkey’s airspace and being shot down by the Turkish military.
Video showed the jet in flames as it fell. It appeared to be a Russian-made Su-24, but a Turkish military official said the nationality of the downed plane has not been determined.
The two pilots of the crashed jet managed to eject and were seen parachuting to the ground, Turkish media reported. CNN Turk says one has been captured by Turkmens inside Syria, while the fate of the other is not known.
The plane reportedly fell in Yamadi village near the town of Bayirbucak in Latakia Province in northwest Syria. The area, largely populated by Turkmens, has been under attack by the Syrian military with cover from Russian airstrikes.
Russian helicopters reportedly tried to locate and rescue the pilots, but were attacked. Syrian rebels also were said to be searching for the men.
#VIDEO: Russian military helicopters search for missing pilots in northern Syria https://t.co/skfayUkjAR pic.twitter.com/XKzhuUIHGP
— Hurriyet Daily News (@HDNER) November 24, 2015
Lack of coordination!
Russian helicopters are looking for the pilots of the downed Su-24, and so do the rebels
— Abdurahman Harkoush (@Abduhark) November 24, 2015
The Turkish military said it had issued 10 warnings in five minutes before firing on the jet fighter. An official said a second warplane had also been warned to stay out of Turkey’s airspace:
The data we have is very clear. There were two planes approaching our border, we warned them as they were getting too close. We warned them to avoid entering Turkish airspace before they did, and we warned them many times. Our findings show clearly that Turkish airspace was violated multiple times. And they violated it knowingly.
The military released maps to support its claims:
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:
It would be wrong now to give any assessments, assumptions or make any conclusions before we get a full picture.
We have to be patient, it is a very serious incident, but again, without all of the information it is impossible to say anything and it would be wrong.
Last week, Turkey warned of a military response if the assaults on the Turkmens did not cease.
The office of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that he has spoken with Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar and Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu about the incident, and that he will consult with NATO and the UN about the developments.