Page 9 - Aruba Today
P. 9
WORLD NEWS 9
Thursday 26 November 2015
Putin sends air-defense missiles to Syria to deter Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Jordanian King Abdullah II in the Bocharov Ruchei Turkish plane, NATO mem- the shore to help protect
residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia. Russia said Wednesday it will deploy air defense ber Turkey could proclaim Russian warplanes with its
missiles to its base in Syria following the downing of a Russian military jet by Turkey. itself under attack and ask long-range Fort air defense
the alliance for military as- system.
(Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP) sistance. “It will be ready to destroy
Most observers believe that any aerial target posing
V. ISACHENKOV will deploy long-range air tary jet by Turkey. a direct military confronta- a potential danger to our
Associated Press defense missiles to its base The incident was the first tion is unlikely, but that the aircraft,” Russian Defense
MOSCOW (AP) — In a move in Syria and destroy any time in half a century that a shooting down of the plane Minister Sergei Shoigu said
raising the potential threat target that may threaten NATO member shot down will further fuel the Syrian at a meeting with mili-
of a Russia-NATO conflict, its warplanes following the a Russian plane. If Russia conflict and complicate tary officials. He also an-
Russia said Wednesday it downing of a Russian mili- responds by downing a international peace efforts. nounced the severance of
The situation is also alarm- all military ties with Turkey
ing because the Russian and said that from now on,
and Turkish presidents both Russian bombers will always
pose as strong leaders and be escorted by fighters on
would be reluctant to back combat missions over Syria.
down and seek a compro- Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, direc-
mise. tor of the German Marshall
The S-400 missiles, which Fund in Ankara, said it is
Russian President Vladi- possible Russia could down
mir Putin ordered sent to a Turkish plane.
the Hemeimeem air base “Turkish planes violate the
in Syria’scoastal province Syrian border daily, either
of Latakia, just 50 kilome- for reconnaissance flights
ters (30 miles) away from or for anti-IS operations,” he
the border with Turkey, are said. “In the same way that
capable of striking targets Turkey argues it has rules of
within a 400-kilometer (250- engagement, Russia could
mile) range with deadly also declare its own rules of
precision. The military also engagement, saying it has
moved the navy missile the right to protect the skies
cruiser Moskva closer to of its ally.”q
