US says Russia violated Turkish airspace

WASHINGTON

Still image from the daily press briefing with Director of Press Relations Elizabeth Trudeau at Department of State on Nov. 30, 2015.

U.S. and Turkish evidence show that a Russian military jet violated Turkish air space before it was shot down last week, but it is important now that Moscow and Ankara work to de-escalate the situation, the U.S. State Department said on Nov. 30. 

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters during a daily press briefing that evidence from Turkish and American sources “indicates the Russian aircraft violated Turkish airspace” despite being warned multiple times by Turkish forces. 

“The available information, including evidence from Turkey and our own sources indicates the Russian aircraft violated Turkish airspace. We also know that the Turks warned the Russian pilots multiple times before the airspace violation, to which the Turks received no response,” Trudeau said.

She declined to elaborate on where the plane was when it was shot down.

Trudeau added that while the U.S. supported Turkey’s right to defend its airspace, it was important now for Ankara and Moscow to take steps to de-escalate the tensions on both sides. 

“As the president [Barack Obama] has said and as Secretary [of State John] Kerry has said, it’s important that the Russians and the Turks talk to each other at this point and take all measures to de-escalate the situation,” she said. 

“As the United States and NATO have stated, we have serious concerns regarding Russian incursions into Turkish airspace. We support the sovereignty of Turkey, which is one of our NATO allies,” Trudeau also said.

The Russian SU-24 bomber was downed by Turkey on Nov. 24 after it violated Turkish airspace above the southern Hatay province along the border with Syria.

Although the Turkish General Staff released the radar trace analysis of the Russian jet, Moscow has insisted that SU-24 did not cross the border.