Turkey downs Russian fighter jet (2015)

CNN

24 Nov 201502:30

Summary

TLDRTurkey shot down a Russian jet, claiming it violated their airspace despite ten warnings. The U.S., monitoring the incident, supports Turkey's right to defend its territory. The Russian plane, originating from Syria, was targeted by Turkish-backed rebels post-crash. Russia's Putin called it a 'stab in the back,' asserting no threat was posed, while the U.S. suggests Russia was targeting Turkish-supported rebels. The incident raises questions about Putin's response and international relations.

Takeaways

🚩 Turkey claims to have warned a Russian jet ten times before shooting it down for violating their airspace.
🌍 President Obama supports Turkey's actions, stating that every country has the right to defend its territory and airspace.
⏱️ The U.S. estimates the Russian jet may have been in Turkish airspace for less than 30 seconds.
📍 The exact location of the border where the incident occurred is unclear and still under investigation.
✈️ The Russian plane took off from a Syrian airfield and was heading north when it was shot down.
🔎 The U.S. was monitoring the situation with radars and radios, hearing everything on open channels.
🔥 After the plane was shot down, social media videos showed Turkish-supported rebels firing at the two Russian pilots.
🚁 A Russian helicopter searching for the second pilot was also reportedly attacked and crashed, with a Russian marine killed during the rescue mission.
🤔 Russian President Vladimir Putin called the shootdown a 'stab in the back' and claimed their planes were targeting ISIS.
🔍 The U.S. asserts that Russia only started flying in the area a few days prior and were targeting rebels supported by Turkey, not ISIS.
🛡️ Turkey defends its actions, emphasizing its right to respond to airspace violations despite repeated warnings.

Q & A

What was the incident involving the Russian jet and Turkish airspace?
-Turkey claims it warned a Russian jet ten times for violating its airspace before ordering its F-16s to shoot down the Russian aircraft.
What was President Obama's stance on the incident?
-President Obama put his full support behind Turkey, stating that every country, including Turkey, has the right to defend its territory and airspace.
How long were the Russians allegedly inside Turkish airspace according to the U.S.?
-The U.S. calculates that the Russians may have been inside Turkish airspace for less than 30 seconds.
What is unclear about the incident?
-It is unclear exactly where the border may be, and there is ongoing data collection and analysis to determine the exact details.
Where did the Russian plane take off from and what was its direction?
-The Russian plane took off from a Syrian airfield and was heading north.
How was the U.S. monitoring the situation?
-The U.S. was monitoring the situation using radars and radios, and was able to hear everything that was happening on open channels.
What happened to the Russian pilots after their plane was shot down?
-Turkish-supported rebels on the ground shot at the two Russian pilots, and a Russian helicopter searching for the second pilot was also apparently under attack and crashed.
Was there any loss of life on the Russian side?
-Yes, a Russian marine was killed during a failed rescue mission for one of the pilots.
What was the reaction of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the incident?
-Russian President Vladimir Putin called the shootdown a stab in the back, asserting that neither the pilots nor the jet posed any threat to Turkey.
What was Putin's claim about the target of his planes?
-Putin claimed that his planes were targeting ISIS.
What does the U.S. say about the targets of the Russian planes?
-The U.S. states that the Russians only started flying in this area in the last few days and were targeting rebels that Turkey supports.
How did Turkey defend its actions?
-Turkey defended its actions by stating that it has the right to respond if its airspace is violated despite repeated warnings.
What is the speculation about Putin's possible reaction and goals?
-It is speculated that if Putin maintains his cool, countries like France, Great Britain, and hopefully the United States, will allow him at the big table for negotiations.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Turkish Airspace Violation and Russian Jet Downing

The paragraph discusses an incident where a Russian jet was shot down by Turkish F-16s after Turkey claims to have warned the jet ten times for violating their airspace. The U.S., calculating the Russians may have been inside Turkey for less than 30 seconds, supports Turkey's right to defend its territory. The border's exact location is unclear, and the U.S. was monitoring the situation with radars and radios. After the plane was shot down, Turkish-supported rebels were seen in a video (which CNN could not independently confirm) firing at the two Russian pilots and calling for their capture. A Russian helicopter searching for one of the pilots was also reportedly attacked and crashed, resulting in the death of a Russian marine during a failed rescue mission. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the incident, stating that neither the pilots nor the jet posed a threat to Turkey and that they were targeting ISIS, contrary to U.S. claims that Russia was targeting rebels supported by Turkey.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Turkish Airspace

Turkish airspace refers to the portion of the atmosphere above Turkey's territory where it exercises sovereign rights. In the video, it is mentioned that a Russian jet was violating this airspace, leading to a military response from Turkey. This is a central issue as it involves international law and the right of a country to protect its sovereign territory.

💡F-16s

F-16s are a type of multirole fighter aircraft used by the Turkish Air Force. The script describes how Turkish F-16s were ordered to shoot down a Russian aircraft, illustrating a military action taken in response to an alleged violation of their airspace.

💡NATO Ally

Turkey is a member of NATO, which is a military alliance that includes the United States and other European countries. The term 'NATO Ally' in the script refers to the collective defense commitment among NATO members, which is why President Obama expressed full support for Turkey's actions.

💡Territory

In the context of the video, territory refers to the land area that a country has sovereignty over. The script emphasizes Turkey's right to defend its territory and airspace, which is a fundamental principle of international relations and security.

💡Russian Jet

A Russian jet is an aircraft operated by Russia. In the video, the jet is said to have been shot down after violating Turkish airspace, leading to a significant international incident and raising questions about Russia's military intentions.

💡Syrian Airfield

The Syrian airfield mentioned in the script is a base from which the Russian plane took off. This detail is significant as it situates the incident within the broader context of the Syrian conflict, where Russia has been conducting military operations.

💡Rebels

Rebels in the script refer to armed groups opposing the Syrian government, some of which are supported by Turkey. The video mentions that Russian forces were allegedly targeting these rebels, which adds a layer of complexity to the geopolitical dynamics at play.

💡ISIS

ISIS, or the Islamic State, is a terrorist organization that has been active in the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that his planes were targeting ISIS, which contrasts with the U.S. assertion that they were targeting Turkish-supported rebels, highlighting the differing narratives and objectives in the region.

💡Stab in the Back

The phrase 'stab in the back' is a metaphor used by Putin to describe the downing of the Russian jet. It implies a sense of betrayal and indicates the severity of the incident from Russia's perspective, escalating the diplomatic tension.

💡Rescue Mission

A rescue mission refers to an operation aimed at saving or recovering individuals in distress. In the script, a Russian helicopter's failed rescue mission for one of the pilots and the death of a Russian marine underscore the human cost and the risks involved in such operations.

💡International Law

International law governs the rights and responsibilities of nations in their interactions with one another. The script touches on this when discussing Turkey's right to defend its airspace, which is a principle rooted in international law, and the implications of the Russian jet's actions.

Highlights

Turkey claims it warned the Russian jet ten times before shooting it down.

President Obama fully supports Turkey's actions, stating every country has the right to defend its airspace.

The U.S. estimates the Russians may have been in Turkish airspace for less than 30 seconds.

The exact location of the border where the incident occurred is unclear.

The Russian plane took off from a Syrian airfield and was heading north.

The U.S. was monitoring the situation using radars and radios.

The U.S. was able to hear everything that was happening on open channels.

After the plane went down, Turkish-supported rebels were seen shooting at the two Russian pilots.

Heavy ground fire from rebels called for the pilot's capture.

A Russian helicopter searching for the second pilot was also under attack and crashed.

A Russian marine was killed during a failed rescue mission.

CNN could not independently confirm the video of the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the shootdown a stab in the back.

Putin claimed his planes were targeting ISIS.

The U.S. says Russians only started flying in the area a few days prior and were targeting rebels supported by Turkey.

Turkey defends its actions, stating it has the right to respond if its airspace is violated.

The question remains whether Putin is genuinely angry or has a more immediate goal.

Putin hopes to maintain a position at the negotiation table with countries like France, Great Britain, and the United States.