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Nato chief doubts Russia's violations of Turkish airspace were accidental Nato chief doubts Russia's violations of Turkish airspace were accidental
(about 1 hour later)
Russian incursions into Turkish airspace over the weekend “don’t look like an accident”, the Nato secretary general has said.Russian incursions into Turkish airspace over the weekend “don’t look like an accident”, the Nato secretary general has said.
Jens Stoltenberg said he doubted Russia’s explanation that its airspace violations were a mistake because they happened twice and both lasted longer than just a few seconds. Following Russia’s move to launch airstrikes in Syria last week, Jens Stoltenberg also said that Nato had received reports of a substantial Russian military buildup in the country, including ground troops and ships in the eastern Mediterranean.
Stoltenberg said he doubted Russia’s explanation that its airspace violations were a mistake because they happened twice and both lasted longer than just a few seconds.
Stoltenberg said the US-led Nato alliance, of which Turkey is a member, had not received any real explanation of what happened. He had not had any direct contact with Moscow, he said, but Nato has discussed the possibility of using its military lines of communication with Russia.Stoltenberg said the US-led Nato alliance, of which Turkey is a member, had not received any real explanation of what happened. He had not had any direct contact with Moscow, he said, but Nato has discussed the possibility of using its military lines of communication with Russia.
The Russian defence ministry said on Monday that an SU-30 fighter aircraft had entered Turkish airspace along the border with Syria “for a few seconds” on Saturday, a mistake caused by bad weather. Nato says a plane also entered Turkish airspace on Sunday, an assertion Russia says it is looking into.
Related: Nato condemns Russia over violations of Turkey's airspaceRelated: Nato condemns Russia over violations of Turkey's airspace
Turkey summoned the Russian ambassador to Ankara for a second time after a new violation of its airspace on Sunday. The Russian envoy was warned that similar incidents should not happen again otherwise “Russia would be held responsible”, an official told AFP. A US official told Reuters the incursions lasted more than a few seconds and described Moscow’s assertion that the incursions were an accident as “far-fetched”.
The violation on Sunday appears to have been the second in as many days after Turkey said its fighter jets intercepted a Russian warplane close to the Syrian border on Saturday, forcing it to turn back. The Russian ambassador was first summoned after Saturday’s incident. Turkey has summoned the Russian ambassador to Ankara on two occasions over the incursions. The Russian envoy was warned that similar incidents should not happen again otherwise “Russia would be held responsible”, an official told AFP.
Turkey’s prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, said on Monday that Ankara would activate military “rules of engagement” irrespective of who violates its airspace.Turkey’s prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, said on Monday that Ankara would activate military “rules of engagement” irrespective of who violates its airspace.
“Even if it is a flying bird it will be intercepted,” Davutoğlu said in an interview with Turkish television.“Even if it is a flying bird it will be intercepted,” Davutoğlu said in an interview with Turkish television.
Russia’s defence ministry said an SU-30 fighter aircraft had entered Turkish airspace “for a few seconds” on Saturday because of bad weather, adding that measures had been taken to prevent a repeat of such incidents. The Russian embassy in Ankara said Moscow was looking into the allegation of a second violation on Sunday. Syrian state TV reported that Russian warplanes bombed Isis targets in and around the city of Palmyra on Tuesday. If confirmed, these were Moscow’s first strikes against an Isis-controlled area.
Russian warplanes have been flying over Syrian territory since Wednesday, conducting airstrikes on what Moscow says are targets belonging to Islamic State jihadis and other “terrorist” groups in the country’s northern and central provinces.Russian warplanes have been flying over Syrian territory since Wednesday, conducting airstrikes on what Moscow says are targets belonging to Islamic State jihadis and other “terrorist” groups in the country’s northern and central provinces.
The west has accused Moscow of using the raids as cover to strike moderate opponents of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.The west has accused Moscow of using the raids as cover to strike moderate opponents of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey opposes Russian intervention in Syria. The government of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has insisted on Assad’s departure as a prelude to resolving the crisis, and has backed a range of rebel groups fighting to overthrow him.Turkey opposes Russian intervention in Syria. The government of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has insisted on Assad’s departure as a prelude to resolving the crisis, and has backed a range of rebel groups fighting to overthrow him.
Last week, Turkey issued a joint statement with its allies involved in the US-backed campaign against Isis that asked Moscow to cease attacks on the Syrian opposition and to focus on fighting Isis.Last week, Turkey issued a joint statement with its allies involved in the US-backed campaign against Isis that asked Moscow to cease attacks on the Syrian opposition and to focus on fighting Isis.
Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this reportAgence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report