Turkey shoots down Russian fighter jet near border with Syria
On Tuesday, Turkey said that after repeated warnings over 5 minutes, Turkish F-16s shot down a fighter jet flying over its territory near the Syrian border. Russia's Defense Ministry said the jet was Russian, that it hasn't had any contact with the pilots since they parachuted out of the Su-24, and that it is "looking into the circumstances of the crash of the Russian jet." Russia said its jet was brought down by artillery fire and added, "The Ministry of Defense would like to stress that the plane was over the Syrian territory throughout the flight."
Turkey, a member of NATO, warned Russian warplanes about flying over its territory in October and shot down a Russian-made drone two weeks later, but this is a worrisome escalation in what's already a geopolitical tinder pile. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the pilots parachuted into the Turkmen Mountains of Syria's northern Latakia province. Turkey generally supports the Syrian Turkmen in the region, which has recently been under attack from the Russian-backed forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russia backs Assad, while Turkey wants him out of power. Both sides are purportedly fighting the Islamic State.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Knife: Salman Rushdie's 'mesmeric memoir' of brutal attack
The Week Recommends The author's account of ordeal which cost him his eye is both 'scary and heartwarming'
By The Week Staff Published
-
Crossword: April 27, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: April 27, 2024
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostages
Speed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 years
Speed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for Ukraine
Speed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawater
Speed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published