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Syria conflict: Russia violation of Turkish airspace 'no accident' Syria conflict: Russia violation of Turkish airspace 'no accident'
(about 1 hour later)
Russia's violation of Turkish airspace over the weekend "does not look like an accident", Nato has said.Russia's violation of Turkish airspace over the weekend "does not look like an accident", Nato has said.
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia had not provided "any real explanation" of the violation, which had "lasted for a long time."Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia had not provided "any real explanation" of the violation, which had "lasted for a long time."
Russia says a violation on Saturday lasted a few seconds and was due to poor weather. It says it is looking into claims of a second violation.Russia says a violation on Saturday lasted a few seconds and was due to poor weather. It says it is looking into claims of a second violation.
Russia's latest strikes in Syria included targeting sites in Palmyra.Russia's latest strikes in Syria included targeting sites in Palmyra.
The strikes hit vehicles and weapons depots in and around the city, which is renowned for its ancient ruins and held by Islamic State militants, Syrian state TV reported on Tuesday. The strikes hit vehicles and weapons depots in and around the city, which is renowned for its ancient ruins and held by Islamic State (IS)militants, Syrian state TV reported on Tuesday.
Russia began its air campaign in Syria last Wednesday.Russia began its air campaign in Syria last Wednesday.
It says it is targeting Islamic State and other Islamists, but Nato and allied states have expressed concern that Russia is concentrating its attacks on other groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, some of them backed by the West. It says it is targeting IS and other Islamists in co-ordination with Syria's government, but Nato and allied states have expressed concern that Russia is concentrating its attacks on other groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, some of them backed by the West.
The latest Russian strikes also targeted positions in the north-western province of Idlib, where rebel groups have made significant gains against government forces in recent months.
Turkey has twice summoned the Russian ambassador - once over the first violation, which occurred on Saturday, and once over a second violation that Turkey says took place on Sunday.
Turkey has reported a third incident in which an unidentified Mig-29 - which analysts say may have been Syrian - locked its radar onto Turkish jets for more than five minutes on Sunday over the Turkish-Syrian border.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that "an attack on Turkey means an attack on Nato".
"Our positive relationship with Russia is known. But if Russia loses a friend like Turkey, with whom it has been co-operating on many issues, it will lose a lot, and it should know that," he said.
Turkish reaction: Mark Lowen, BBC News, IstanbulTurkish reaction: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul
Turkey's government has been enraged by these Russian incursions - and by Moscow's military intervention in Syria as a whole.Turkey's government has been enraged by these Russian incursions - and by Moscow's military intervention in Syria as a whole.
First, any violation of Turkish airspace could lead to the object being shot down, which would dramatically escalate events. Second, there could be a mid-air collision close to Turkey's borders, as this is the first time since World War Two that Russian and American combat planes have been in the skies over Syria. But third, Russia's air strikes are the final nail in the coffin for Turkey's "buffer zone" idea in northern Syria.First, any violation of Turkish airspace could lead to the object being shot down, which would dramatically escalate events. Second, there could be a mid-air collision close to Turkey's borders, as this is the first time since World War Two that Russian and American combat planes have been in the skies over Syria. But third, Russia's air strikes are the final nail in the coffin for Turkey's "buffer zone" idea in northern Syria.
Ankara has continually pushed for this, ostensibly to allow some of the two million Syrians in Turkey to return - though critics say it's designed to break up areas controlled by Syrian Kurds, who Turkey see as a threat. There was already opposition in the West to the plan. But Russia's air strikes would make it almost impossible to implement. Ankara has continually pushed for this, ostensibly to allow some of the two million Syrians in Turkey to return - though critics say it's designed to break up areas controlled by Syrian Kurds, who Turkey see as a threat.
There was already opposition in the West to the plan. But Russia's air strikes will make it almost impossible to implement.
Where key countries stand: Who is backing whomWhere key countries stand: Who is backing whom
Why? What? How? Five things you need to know about Russia's involvementWhy? What? How? Five things you need to know about Russia's involvement
What can Russia's air force do? The US-led coalition has failed to destroy IS. Can Russia do any better?What can Russia's air force do? The US-led coalition has failed to destroy IS. Can Russia do any better?
Turkey has twice summoned the Russian ambassador - once over the first violation, which occurred on Saturday, and once over a second violation that Turkey says took place on Sunday. Mr Stoltenberg called the Russian violation "unacceptable", saying Nato was taking it "very seriously" and warning that "incidents, accidents, may create dangerous situations".
Mr Stoltenberg called the Russian violation "unacceptable" and said Nato was taking it "very seriously", though he could not confirm reports that a Russian warplane had locked its radar onto Turkish jets.
He added that Nato and Russia had military-to-military lines of communication open which had not been used, and that it would be natural to do so.He added that Nato and Russia had military-to-military lines of communication open which had not been used, and that it would be natural to do so.
The head of Nato also said there had been "a substantial military build-up" by Russia in Syria, including ground troops and naval capabilities. Concern over airspace violation is not academic, says BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus.
Russia's deployment was of "great concern", he said, calling on Moscow to avoid further escalating tensions with Nato. Turkey shot down a Syrian jet last year and a helicopter only a few months ago, both of which had strayed into its airspace. The Syrians shot down a Turkish Phantom jet in June 2012 off their coast, quickly acknowledging that it was a mistake.
The head of Nato also said Russia's deployment in Syria was of "great concern", and he called on Moscow to avoid further escalating tensions with Nato.
There had been "a substantial military build-up" by Russia in Syria, including ground troops and naval capabilities, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that civilians have been killed by Russian strikes in the past week, but evidence on the ground has indicated otherwise.Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that civilians have been killed by Russian strikes in the past week, but evidence on the ground has indicated otherwise.
A US-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq since September last year, which rights groups say have also caused civilian deaths.
Syria's conflict, which began in 2011, has left more than 250,000 dead and about half the country's population displaced.Syria's conflict, which began in 2011, has left more than 250,000 dead and about half the country's population displaced.