Turkey Shoots Down Russian SU 24 Says Repeated Airspace Violations
Putin Calls Plane’s Downing by Turkey ‘Stab in the Back’
The #Turkish military has released a radar picture confirming air space violation by the downed #Russian SU-24 pic.twitter.com/Ys1BjkxZ5a
— estNATO (@estNATO) November 24, 2015
Istanbul (CNN)One of the world’s most volatile regions was roiled further Tuesday when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkey said it hit the plane after it repeatedly violated Turkey’s airspace and ignored 10 warnings.
More: Putin Calls Plane’s Downing by Turkey ‘Stab in the Back’
Lets talk facts available. If we assume the map is accurate and genuine, pending contrary or better info okay? Turkay has shot down airspace violators before. And is accustomed to squaring off over the years with planes flown by Syrian pilots. Also helicopters and perhaps in recent years drones.
One thing the map seems to show in the Russian plane flew an oval that crossed Turkeys border at a protrusion of sorts. I wonder what is on that ground, I’ll likely update later with Google earth images. It appears to show Turkeys fighter head south, adroitly skim the border and get back safe. No missile track, so we are guessing at the details of the engagement. It does look like the Russian plane veered around pointing its nose to the track of the Turkish fighter(s)? The timeline or video of these tracks would tell a lot more detail.
For conversations sake, looks like an actual violation, and maybe the SU 24 got into Syrian air before the missile actually struck. Everyone involved here has good radar, professionals at work, GPS and the Russian nav system. Radio navigation. In clear air dead reckoning with roads.
So what does this mean for Obamas Syria policy. Discuss?