NATO condemns Russian violation of Turkish airspace

ANKARA

NATO has called on the Russian Federation to stop attacking the Syrian opposition, condemning its incursions into the Turkish airspace.

“Allies strongly protest the violations of Turkish sovereign airspace, and condemn these incursions into and violations of NATO airspace,” said NATO in the statement.

The North Atlantic Council met on Monday and published a statement in which it condemned the Russian jets' violation of Turkish airspace.

According to the statement, NATO voiced concern regarding Russian attacks on Hama, Homs, and Idlib targeting civilians and Syrian opposition forces.

“Allies call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians, to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL [Daesh], and to promote a solution to the conflict through a political transition,” said the statement.

The Allies highlighted that Russian military actions were more dangerous especially since the recent violations of Turkish airspace on Oct. 3 and 4 by Russian Air Force SU-30 and SU-24 aircrafts in the Hatay region.

NATO explained that the Russian aircrafts violated Turkish airspace despite Ankara’s clear, timely and repeated warnings.

Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952.