Turkish warplanes have shot down a Russian military aircraft on the border with Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin said air-to-air missiles fired by Turkish F-16s while it was flying over Syrian territory hit the Su-24. But Turkish military officials said the plane was engaged after being warned that it was violating Turkish airspace. It is the first time a Russian aircraft has crashed in Syria since Moscow launched air strikes against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad in late September.
Vladimir Putin accuses Turkey of "stabbing Russia in the back", as Turkish official says Ankara believes two pilots are alive despite reports.
Erdogan says Turkey does not want escalation with Russia over downed plane, adding: "we are only defending out own security and the rights of our brothers".
He also said that parts of the downed plane landed inside Turkey, injuring two Turkish citizens.
Russia would be prepared to "create a joint staff" to fight the Islamic State (Isil) in which Moscow would work with France, the United States and even Turkey, the Russian ambassador to France said Wednesday."We are prepared to... plan strikes on Daesh (IS) positions together and create a joint staff with France, the US, with all the countries who want to be in this coalition," said Alexander Orlov," adding: "If the Turks want to be in at as well, they are welcome" despite tensions after Turkey downed a Russian military jet.
One of the two Russian pilots who ejected from a jet shot down by Turkey on Tuesday has been picked up by the Syrian army and is being taken to Russia's base there, Russia's ambassador to France said on Wednesday.
"One on board was wounded when he parachuted down and killed in a savage way on the ground by the jihadists in the area and the other managed to escape and, according to the latest information, has been picked up by the Syrian army and should be going back to the Russian airforce base," ambassador Alexandre Orlov told Europe 1 radio. The other pilot was killed.
This is exactly the kind of incident that many have feared since Russia launched its air operations in Syria. The dangers of operating near to the Turkish border have been all too apparent. Turkish planes have already shot down at least one Syrian air force jet and possibly a helicopter as well.
Russia insists that its warplane did not violate Turkish air space.
The United States believes that the Russian jet shot down by Turkey on Tuesday was hit inside Syrian airspace after a brief incursion into Turkish airspace, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said that assessment was based on detection of the heat signature of the jet.
Turkey's military said the fighter was shot down by two of its F-16s after it violated Turkish airspace. A number of accounts suggest the SU-24 was in Turkish territory for 17 seconds before it was attacked, crashing once it had crossed back into Syria.
In this current affair, Pluralist theory is applied. Turkey is a member of NATO, which considers an attack on one of its members to e an attack on them all. Pluralist believes on the corporation among states and the value of non-state actor. Interdependence gives Turkey an alliance to talk with Russia. Meaning that if Russia does something wrong, they have to admit the fact and solve the problem.