Russian jet shot down by Turkey

Summary

A Russian fighter bomber was shot down by Turkey for violating its airspace, with a Turkish TV crew capturing the incident. The pilots ejected but were reportedly killed by Syrian Turkmen rebels. Turkey released radar tracking, accusing Russia of border violations. Russia denies this, claiming they were bombing Turkmen rebels in Syria. The incident highlights the complex dynamics in Syria, where both Russia and Turkey are fighting ISIS but have divergent interests, with Russia supporting the Assad regime and Turkey opposing it.

Takeaways

• 🔴 A Russian fighter bomber was shot down at 6,000 ft by Turkey, signaling a strong stance against airspace violations.
• 📹 A Turkish TV crew captured the incident, ensuring global awareness of Turkey's response to the violation.
• 🪂 The pilots ejected and their parachutes were found by ethnic Turkmen rebels, who are allied with the Turkish government.
• 🎯 The Russian aircraft was reportedly shot down by a Turkish F16, based on radar tracking provided by Turkey.
• 🚫 Russia denies that their jets violated Turkish airspace, maintaining they were on a mission to bomb Turkmen rebels in Syria.
• 🏰 President Putin described the incident as a 'stab in the back' during a meeting with the King of Jordan.
• 🤬 The Turkish president and prime minister expressed anger over both the border violation and Russia's bombing of Syrian Turkmen.
• 🛑 Russia's military is engaged in a 'heroic battle' against terrorism, as stated by the Turkish president, despite today's loss.
• 🔍 Russian helicopters searched for the pilots, while Syrian rebels filmed the incident, highlighting the ongoing conflict.
• ✅ The rebels used an American-made TOW missile to shoot down a Russian helicopter, viewing it as a victory against both Russia and the Syrian regime.
• 🌐 The incident underscores the complex dynamics in Syria, where Turkey and Russia, though both ostensibly fighting ISIS, have conflicting priorities with Turkey opposing and Russia supporting the Assad regime.

Q & A

What event is described in the transcript?

The transcript describes the shooting down of a Russian fighter bomber by Turkish forces at 6,000 ft, with the incident being filmed by a Turkish TV crew.

What was the reaction of the ethnic Turkman Rebels in Syria to the event?

The ethnic Turkman Rebels in Syria celebrated the event, with some brandishing a piece of a parachute from the downed pilots.

What was the fate of the Russian pilots according to the transcript?

The transcript suggests that the pilots ejected and opened their parachutes but were later retrieved dead, with one video showing what appears to be fighters around the body of a pilot.

How did Turkey justify its actions?

Turkey justified its actions by stating that it will not accept violations of its airspace and that the Russian jets had crossed into Turkish airspace.

What was Russia's response to the incident?

Russia denied that their fighter jets violated Turkish airspace and described the loss as a 'stab in the back' by terrorists.

What was the context of the Russian military's actions in Syria?

The Russian military was conducting a campaign in support of the Syrian government, targeting groups that pose the greatest threat to Bashar al-Assad, rather than ISIS.

What was the Turkish government's stance on the Syrian Turkman?

The Turkish government viewed the Syrian Turkman as allies and was upset about Russia's bombing of them, as they see these actions as attacks on a region where ISIS is scarcely present.

What was the broader implication of the incident for the fight against ISIS?

The incident highlighted a divergence in priorities between Turkey and Russia, with Turkey more focused on defeating Assad and Russia on protecting him, which allowed ISIS to continue its rule elsewhere in Syria undisturbed.

What weapon was used by the rebels to shoot down one of the Russian helicopters?

The rebels used an American-made TOW surface-to-surface missile to shoot down one of the Russian helicopters.

How did the ongoing fighting between rebels and the Syrian government relate to the incident?

The fighting between rebels supported by Turkey and the Syrian government backed by Russia continued in the same area where the pilots were shot down, indicating a complex and multifaceted conflict.

What was the implication of the incident for the relations between Turkey and Russia?

The incident strained relations between Turkey and Russia, as both countries faced off against each other while they were supposed to be fighting ISIS.