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TURKEY’S ARMED FORCES have shot down a Syrian warplane near the two countries’ border — an act being described by Syria as “blatant aggression.”
The unnamed spokesman was quoted by Syrian state TV as saying the plane was downed Sunday in Syrian airspace as it was attacking rebels who have been on the offensive in the coastal province of Latakia.
The spokesman said the pilot ejected from the aircraft.
Turkey is among the main backers of Syrian opposition fighters trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power.
The downing of the plane came as Syrian government troops were trying try regain a border crossing point with Turkey near the town of Kassab that rebels captured on Friday.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated the military for downing the plane, and warned of a “heavy” response if the country’s airspace is violated.
“Our response will be heavy if you violate our airspace,” Erdogan said during an election rally, referring to the Assad regime.
“I congratulate the chief of general staff, the armed forces and those honourable pilots… I congratulate our air forces,” said the premier.
Turkish media reported that the army warned two Syrian jets approaching the border to turn away, but scrambled its F-16 jets when one refused to abide by the warning.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the plane was striking Latakia when it was hit, catching fire and crashing in Syrian territory.
Reporting from AFP and Associated Press.
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@dangle,what a nasty comment!!Wonder what was said by people like you about the Irish in the famine times!Same on you.
Amazing how these people keep on breeding even though food and water is had to come by in a poverty stricken kip
that it is!
You’re talking about human beings, not animals. Saying they are breeding is disgusting.
They are some of the poorest people in the world. Without access to basic needs like food and water, do you really think contraception is available?
Also, culturally African people generally have larger families for a variety of reasons, not unlike Irish people only two generations ago.
But it IS a poverty stricken kip, and they ARE breeding even though they know they will not be able to raise their kids. If I did not have the resources to take care of myself, I would not even think of bringing a child into the world. It would be a life of misery and starvation; nasty, brutish and short.
Gerry b does it need to be breaking news to keep these atrocities in the public domain???
Yawn
That’s the third time in less than 24 hours, that “the journal” has posted a news article on this same issue. It’s not big news, is it?????
I reckon u guys think this sort of story will provoke some interesting comments, as people’s attitudes on this sort of aid appeal tend to be so extreme.
Gerry B, if 10 MILLION people suffering drought conditions, destitute and barely surviving is not big news to you, what is?
Maybe you prefer to live in a bubble where we rehash the bank bailout arguement day in, day out.
Kinda puts our predicament into perspective I think.
Lenny, I accept your point, however, my comment still stands valid. This unfortunate situation Is not really breaking news and the fact that it has been featured on the journal 3 times in 14 hours, seems bizarre. I dont recall any reference to this story on tonights rte 9 pm news.
Ok, well I’ll stick with the journal covering everything from Irish news, columns, live sport updates to chocolate printers than
rte’s biased political reports to dinners flying on fair city.
I accept our differences.
have your say