Turkish jets intercept Russian fighter plane violating its air space, foreign ministry says

PHOTO

Some of the world's most advanced Russian Sukhoi aircraft are in active service in Syria.

AFP: ERIC FEFERBERG

Turkey has intercepted a Russian warplane that violated its air space near the Syrian border and forced it to turn back, Turkey's foreign ministry said.

Ankara scrambled two F-16 jets to intercept the warplane, which is claimed to have occurred on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement.

Turkey's foreign ministry summoned Moscow's ambassador to protest the violation.

Foreign minister Feridun Sinirlioglu also called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to convey Ankara's unease, and had telephone conversations with allied counterparts in NATO.

Turkey, which has the second-largest army in NATO, said the Russian jet entered Turkish airspace in its southern Hatay province on Saturday.

A NATO official said secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg would meet Mr Sinirlioglu on Monday to discuss the situation in Syria.

"The meeting will focus on the events of the last weekend and the situation in Syria," the official said, adding that the talks were called at Turkey's request.

In its statement, Turkey urged Russia to avoid repeating such a violation or it would be held "responsible for any undesired incident that may occur".

Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned that Ankara would activate military rules of engagement irrespective of who violated its air space.

"The Turkish Armed Forces are clearly instructed. Even [if] it is a flying bird it will be intercepted," Mr Davutoglu told Haber-Turk television.

Russia, Turkey at odds over Syrian crisis

Russia and Turkey have been at odds over the crisis in Syria, with Moscow emerging as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's key international backer.

Ankara has urged his ouster as the only solution to the conflict.

Turkey labelled Russia's bombing campaign in Syria as "unacceptable" with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan warning that Moscow was making a "grave mistake".

Russia launched air strikes in Syria last week after Mr Erdogan visited Moscow to meet president Vladimir Putin and attend the opening of a new mosque.

It is unclear if Mr Putin gave Mr Erdogan any advance warning of Russia's plan for the air strikes at the talks.

Mr Erdogan urged Mr Putin to reconsider Moscow's bombing campaign, accusing the Russian military of turning a blind eye to the killing of dozens of civilians.

Britain's ambassador to Ankara, Richard Moore, said Russia's incursion into Turkish airspace was "reckless and worrying".

"UK, and its other NATO Allies, stand shoulder to shoulder with Turkey," he wrote on Twitter.

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