Former Turkish PM says he gave the order to shoot down any aircraft coming from Syria
The former Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, has said that he gave the order which resulted in the downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft in November last year. Hurriyet Daily News reported that Davutoğlu said this while on air with private news channel, NTV. He added that it was not a specific order, but a general instruction.
“According to the customs of our country, the Prime Minister gives the rules of conduct to the General Staff in a written directive. I gave such an order on the 10th of October,” Davutoğlu explained. “These rules of conduct do not only apply to Syrian aircraft, but to anyone who violates Turkish airspace,” he added.
Davutoğlu said that this order was given after cases of Russian aircraft violating Turkish airspace became more frequent.
The Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian Su-24 aircraft on the 24th of November 2015. This resulted in a breakdown in relations between the two countries, which has only recently been restored.
Two Turkish pilots, who shot down a Russian Su-24 on the Syrian border in November last year, were detained after a failed coup attempt on the 15th of July. They are being investigated for their possible involvement in the coup.