North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Monday denounced Russian Federation for “irresponsible behavior” for allowing its warplanes to cross into Turkey.
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The USA, which backs the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has repeatedly said that Russian interference will stoke tensions and benefit the Assad regime, a staunch ally of Moscow.
Turkey and Russian Federation have always been at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with Ankara seeking the overthrow of Assad while Moscow does everything to keep him in power.
Jeff Davis said US military aircraft have been forced to alter their flight paths to avoid Russian aircraft over Syria.
Turkey’s prime minister demanded Wednesday that Russia respect Turkey’s borders, saying the nation won’t “make any concessions” on matters of border security, after two Russian warplanes strayed into Turkish airspace over the weekend.
Russian jets have flown more than 100 sorties over Syria since the beginning of an aerial campaign ordered by president Vladimir Putin last week, dropping bombs and missiles on bases, weapons caches and even a training camp for suicide bombers, according to the defence ministry.
Putin said it was too early to talk about the results of Russia’s operations in Syria and ordered Shoigu to continue cooperation with the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq on Syria. The rest of the world, including the US, believes Assad is part of the problem and needs to leave office.
The Russian ambassador “was invited” to the Turkish foreign ministry on Tuesday over the incursions, the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
US and allied forces are providing air support for coalition-trained rebels, as well as groups who are fighting ISIS but also oppose Assad.
Russian Federation on Wednesday launched cruise missiles from ships in the Caspian Sea into Syria – which traveled through Iraqi airspace, where US and coalition air forces are flying.
“It’s a new parliament, there are new MPs on both sides of the House who weren’t there when the first vote was lost about taking military action two years ago, which I think a number of people now rather regret”, he said. “But if they are working and have a better knowledge of the situation then let them give us the targets they have uncovered in that period and we will work against such”, the Russian president said.
Mr Fallon said the case was an indication of the “direct threat” which Isil poses, and added to the case for hitting the terror group “harder”.
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“We welcome [Russia’s readiness to establish contacts with the FSA] and do not object to the meetings with Russian officials, but on the condition of ceasing airstrikes on positions of FSA units and the civilian population”, Masri said.
