Russia suspects Turkey of preparing to invade Syria
According to Igor Konashenkov, a representative of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, there are “more and more” signs of covert preparations for an armed invasion of Syria by Turkey.
Konashenkov stated that Moscow has “serious grounds” for suspicion. “We are finding more and more signs of covert training of the Turkish Armed Forces for future military actions in Syria,” he reported. He also noted that on a previous occasion, the Ministry of Defense presented video evidence of self-propelled Turkish artillery firing on Syrian villages in the north of Latakia.
Relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated sharply in November last year when the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian bomber over the Syrian-Turkish border.
On the 29th of January, Ankara announced a violation of Turkish airspace by a Russian combat aircraft. They accused Moscow of escalating tensions, which Russia has called a deliberate provocation and “unfounded propaganda.” Troops of the command of the Air Force of Turkey have consequently increased their combat readiness.