A Turkish Air Force F16 jet fighter prepares to take off from an air base during the Anatolian Eagle military exercise in the central Anatolian city of Konya April 28, 2010. UMIT BEKTAS/Reuters
Hurriyet Daily News: Turkey suspends Syria flights after crisis with Russia
The Turkish army has suspended flights over Syria as part of an ongoing joint military campaign with the United States against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after it shot down a Russian jetfighter, sparking an unprecedented crisis between Ankara and Moscow.
The decision was taken following the eruption of the crisis with Russia in which a Turkish F-16 downed a Russian warplane early Nov. 24 after it allegedly violated Turkish airspace, according to diplomatic sources.
Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that the suspension of the Turkish jetfighters’ participation in the U.S.-led military operations against ISIL was in fact a mutual decision taken with Russia, which also halted its aerial campaigns near the Turkish border. Both parties will continue to be as careful as possible in a bid to avoid a repetition of such incidents until they re-establish dialogue channels to reduce the tension.
Update: The Turkish Air Force suspends flights over Syria amid crisis with Russia over Su-24 downing (The Aviationist)
WNU Editor: This is a wise move. In the past two days Russian military jets have been bombing every possible Turkish target in Syria, and I am sure that the Russian military is itching to shoot down a Turkish fighter and/or fighters. I am also sure that the U.S. and NATO are now telling Turkey to back-down .... which if the above report is true tells me that they have succeeded.
Update #2: I am not a fan of this website, but they are probably right on this one .... Turkey suspends flights over Syria, Russia launches electronic warfare against Ankara (Debka).
Hat Tip Jay for the Hurriyet link.
8 comments:
So ISIS is getting no more photo reconnaissance?
I don't believe Russia will stop flying missions along the Turkish border as this report states. The only thing "mutual" betweem Turkey and Russia right now is disdain.
RRH,
"Turkey says" the stand down is "mutual",
Russia says nothing and continues to bomb.
After imprudently downing a Russian bomber, and the action not having the desired results,
Turkey has prudently decided that Turkish Airforce flights over Syria and along the Syrian Turkish border, are no longer "prudent".
Such a decision might be viewed as cowardice, by the Turkish public, were it not "sold" as some kind of mutual detente.
For sure. I thought face saving too.
RRH,
And next, the Turkish Government will ensure that neither social media nor the Press will report on continued Russian airstrikes and SAA and YPG activities along the border.
On the issue of invading sovereign airspace Turkey is ripe for a shoot down if they fly into Syrian airspace and will have little defense should it happen.
Bob,
With the bombings of the YPG and the downing of the SU-24, Turkish intrusions into Syrian Airspace have "lost" the International Conventions protection of "not being a threat".
Those protections remain for the RF, as long as they refrain from any retaliations on or over Turkish soil.
Thanks for that info.
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