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October 06, 2015•Update: October 06, 2015
ANKARA
A Russian fighter jet was intercepted by Turkish warplanes after violating Turkey’s air space, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday.
The Russian plane crossed into the southern province of Hatay on Saturday, according to a statement.
“A fighter aircraft belonging to the Russian Federation violated Turkish airspace at 12:08 [0908GMT] south of the Yayladagi/Hatay region,” the statement said.
“The Russian aircraft exited Turkish airspace into Syria after it was intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which were conducting patrols in the region.”
Yayladagi lies to the north of a region where Syrian government forces are facing rebel groups not linked to Daesh.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the media Monday that Russia claimed the violation was a mistake.
Russia had said it respected Turkey's boundaries and gave assurances that no such violations would occur again, Davutoglu said.
"Whoever violates our airspace, our rules of engagement are clear," he said, adding: "It does not matter which country it is. Russia is our ally and neighbor and the Syrian issue is not a Turkey-Russia crisis".
Earlier, Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu telephoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to complain about the incident and the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Acting Undersecretary Ahmet Muhtar Gun protested “strongly” about the incursion to the ambassador and demanded it never happen again.
Gun said Russia would be responsible for any “undesired incident” resulting from a future violation.
Sinirlioglu also spoke to Turkey’s NATO allies about the incident.
Meanwhile, the White House said the U.S. and its NATO allies were "quite concerned by that provocation," and that the Russians were getting much more deeply involved in a sectarian civil war in Syria.
"Given the stakes and sensitivity around the Russian military action in that region of the world, I think our concerns are well founded," said spokesman Josh Earnest.
A State Department spokesman described the Russian incursion as "dangerous" and called Russian military actions in Syria as a "strategic mistake".
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond criticized the violation. In a tweet Monday, Hammond said: “Russian incursion into Turkish airspace raises stakes in what is already a high risk situation.”
Referring to the Russian foreign ministry, he added: “Call on @mfa_russia to desist”.
Russia began flying combat missions over Syria on Sept. 30 following an escalation in its military support for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Despite claiming to be targeting Daesh, the U.S. and its allies have complained of Russian airstrikes on “moderate” forces fighting Assad.
Davutoglu also said Turkey was open to dialogue for finding a political solution to the Syrian conflict. "We have carried out many talks with Russia as well. However, it is no benefit at all to support a dictator who destroys his people and to harm moderate opponents and civilians when fighting against terror groups.
"Russia must do whatever is needed to stop the tension in the region from increasing. Syria is not a neighbour toRussia but it is to Turkey. Any crisis in Syria would affect Turkey, not Russia. Therefore, we would not suggest any policy that could harm Turkey or any of our allies ... I hope Russia, which has very strong cultural and commercial relations with Turkey, pays attention to avoid such policies," he said.
