- Nato agrees to meet to discuss the incident
- Foreign Secretary William Hague condemns Syria's actions
- Two Turkish airmen still missing
By Ian Drury
|
Military intervention in Syria moved a step nearer after Nato announced it would meet to discuss the shooting down of a Turkish warplane.
Amid a tense stand-off, Ankara invoked Article 4 of the defence alliance which allows a member state to consult allies if its security is threatened.
Two Turkish airmen were still missing last night after their unarmed F-4 Phantom jet was shot down by Syrian forces.
Scroll down for video
A F4 Phantom Turkish fighter jet was shot down by Syrian security forces over international waters, say Turkey
Turkey’s foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the jet ‘momentarily’ strayed into Syrian airspace during Friday’s training flight but was shot down after returning to international airspace.
Damascus insisted the ‘unidentified’ aircraft was engaged while over Syrian territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles from the coastline.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said the ‘deplorable’ incident underlined the need for Syrian president Bashar Assad’s brutal regime to go.
He said: ‘This outrageous act underlines how far beyond accepted behaviour the Syrian regime has put itself and I condemn it wholeheartedly.
‘The Assad regime should not make the mistake of believing it can act with impunity. It will be held to account for its behaviour.’
Turkish Foreign Minister, left, has appealed for Nato support, while British Foreign Secretary William Hague, right, has condemned the 'deplorable’ incident
Whitehall sources said Ankara’s decision to call the Nato meeting in Brussels tomorrow meant the prospect of military intervention would be discussed.
Earlier this month Mr Hague suggested the UK may send troops to Syria if the country spiralled into a Bosnian-style civil war.
More than 14,000, mostly civilians, have been killed in the past 15 months since Assad ordered his soldiers to crush an uprising.
÷Russia is to defy David Cameron by sending back to Syria a cargo ship loaded with helicopter gunships blocked by the UK last week.
The MV Alaed was yesterday in the Arctic port of Murmansk as sources in Moscow cautioned against ‘acts of provocation’.
Mr Hague called the act 'outrageous' and said it underlined the need for Bashar Assad's regime to go
VIDEO: Foreign ministers united as NATO agrees to talk about it...Â
-
Kate told to curtsey to blood princesses Beatrice and... -
Mom who made sex tape with son, 16, is jailed for four... -
'Gentlemen, take tips': Obama reveals how he romanced... -
Ann Curry's replacement at Today set to be named next week... -
That's some 30th birthday gift! Queen gives William a... -
Growth of the 'breastaurant': Waitresses offering dinner and... -
The little girl who didn't exist: Mother 'doted on her two... -
Bought for $15,000... sold for $2m: Incredible 300-year-old... -
Pictured: The man who 'smashed a 77-year-old woman in the... -
Puppy love: The lion cub called Simba who has forged an... -
Mommy bear to the rescue after cub gets trapped in a... -
Lonesome George, the LAST giant Galapagos Islands turtle,...
Share this article:
Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have not been moderated.
- Newest
- Oldest
- Best rated
- Worst rated
Another point might be that although the aircraft was HIT while outside Syrian airspace, the key issue is where was it when the missile was FIRED...? There can be a significant time-lapse between launch and impact which MIGHT cover firing taking place while the aircraft was within Syrian territory, but not reaching the aircraft until it was well clear..... However, firing a missile at an "unidentified" aircraft is skipping several accepted stages in the recognised process, most important of which is scrambling a fighter to VISUALLY IDENTIFY the "intruder" before firing anything at all.
Report abuse
Another reason for the warmongers like Hague and Cleg to send in the troops ( to die) Syria is a long way off, no chance of them reach parliament to bomb it, if there was do you think these would be liberators would be so keen for war.
Report abuse
scimitarpete, Altenau Germany. it is not creed it is article 5 that say an attack on one is an attack on all .turkey has invoked Article 4 that is a way for nato to get together and look at options do you think the US or UK is going to intervene not a chance with russia sending troops there .and so you know turkey could finish syria on its own without nato thay do after all have the second largest army in nato
Report abuse
The NATO creed says that an attack on one is an attack on all. It will be interesting to see how our PR-expert, spinning, smart-mouthed, expenses-exploiting, gutless, cowardly, self-serving, armed-forces-emasculating politicians deal with this one.
Report abuse
If the Greeks shot down a Turkish plane that's a different story we love the Greeks. The same Greeks who massacred the Turkish Cypriots in 74 remember what happened. A walk in the park some might say shame we did,t take the whole island. anyways war is bad for your health..
Report abuse
Just give the Syrian rebels some shoulder fired surface to air missiles, they sorted these same helicopters out in Afghanistan. - Brian, NZ, 25/6/2012 09:14 _________________ They did indeed......and the Taliban still have stocks of them left..... Isn't it odd, then, that their "close friends", "Al Qaeda", with their "global network" allegedly have to try to bring down civil aircraft with inflammable knickers....
Report abuse
The thing is some powers are trying to pick a war between Syria and us.
Report abuse
And here we go again!
Report abuse
It's another opportunity to topple a brutal regime and replace it with a legitimate government. So, let's all get our ducks in a row. And everything will go as planned.
Report abuse
Turkey flies into Greek airspace on a daily basis as well. Maybe the Greeks should shoot them down too.
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar