Russian soldier killed trying to rescue pilot shot down over Syria

Australia’s prime minister on Wednesday called for Russia and Turkey to show restraint over the shooting down of as Russian jet fighter near the Syria-Turkey border, adding Australia is paying close attention to the safety of Australian pilots over Syria. The official insisted that the plane had been in Syrian airspace when it was shot down.

The president dismissed Russian claims that the plane had been on an anti-terror mission against Islamic State (IS) jihadists in northern Syria, saying that the area was populated by Syria’s Turkmen minority.

The chances of war between Russian Federation and Turkey – which has the might of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation behind it – are now “most likely”, claimed one of Moscow’s most respected military analysts.

Early Tuesday, Turkey reported that two of its F-16s shot down a fighter jet after it crossed the Syrian border into Turkish airspace and ignored 10 warnings to turn back.

According to Russia’s General Staff, one of the pilots was killed by ground fire after ejecting from the plane and a rescue operation is under way to find the other pilot.

Stoltenberg said he had warned repeatedly of the dangers posed by Russia’s massive air campaign against rebels seeking to oust long-time ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. The official said the action was not against any specific country but an act of self defense.

Each of these paths show a short trip of about 1.7 miles through Turkey’s airspace, no more than two miles above the southern tip of the country.

President Putin said Russian Federation “will never tolerate such atrocities as happened today and we hope that the worldwide community will find the strength to join forces and fight this evil”.

“Everyone must know that it is our global right and national duty to take any measure against whoever violates our air or land borders”, Mr Davutoglu said.

Mr. Putin, speaking slowly and clearly angry before a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Sochi, Russia, said the episode would have “serious consequences for Russian-Turkish relations”, but did not elaborate.