Turkey Downs Russian Warplane Near Syria Border, Putin Calls Backstabbing

Turkish military shot down today Russian warplane near Turkey-Syria border alleging it violated the airspace even after repeated warnings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the jet crossed Syrian airspace saying Turkey will have tragic consequences for the relationship between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the NATO official has said its governing body, the North Atlantic Council, will be holding an emergency meeting in Belgium capital Brussels later today in the evening.

Turkish ambassador to the US, Serdar Kilic, said in his tweet their warnings should be taken seriously and others should not test their patients.

Turkish presidential sources said the warplane was hit within the framework of engagement rules near the border in Bayirbucak area of Syria.

However, the Sputnik news agency of Russia reports the Su-24 plane was gunned down from the ground. It was flying at an altitude of 6,000 meters and after the bombing the pilots managed parachuting out of it.

Turkey has also released a purported image of the warplane path showing the Turkish airspace was violated even after ten warnings were issued before it was shot down.

Syria is trapped in a brutal civil war for past more than four years in which hundreds and thousands of people have been killed. Turkey opposes the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad where as Russia is propping up the regime.