Russia's air violations no accident: Nato
Nato's chief accused Russia yesterday of deliberately violating Turkey's airspace during bombing raids on Syria, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Moscow it risked losing an ally.
Turkey said its jets were harassed and put on radar lock by an unidentified MIG-29 on Monday -- the latest in a series of confrontations near the border with its war-torn neighbour.
The Nato member accuses Russia of violating its airspace at least twice over the weekend, and has warned it will activate its rules of military engagement if such intrusions are repeated.
Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said yesterday efforts by US military officials to work with Russia to keep the skies over Syria safe for pilots from both countries appear to be stalled.
Russian violations of Turkish airspace would prompt the United States to "strengthen our posture," Carter also warned, but did not give details.
In his toughest remarks yet against Russia in the crisis, Erdogan accused Moscow and its ally Iran of working to maintain the "state terror" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"It is of course not possible to remain patient about this," said Erdogan, referring to the incursions into Turkish air space.
"If Russia loses a friend like Turkey with whom it has a lot of cooperation it is going to lose a lot of things. It needs to know this," he added.
Syrian state television said yesterday that Russian warplanes had struck IS targets in and around the ancient city of Palmyra for the first time.
A military source cited by Syrian state television said Russian forces struck the city of Palmyra and its outskirts, "destroying 20 armoured vehicles."
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