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Putin sends air defense missiles to Syria

In a move that increases the threat of military confrontation between NATO member and Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday he ordered the deployment systems of air defense missiles in a Russian air base after the demolition by Turkey of one of its warplanes.

AP

Turkey brought down the Russian military aircraft S-24 on Tuesday, claiming it ignored repeated warnings that had entered its airspace from Syria. One pilot was killed and another was rescued by the Syrian army command and delivered in the Russian base Wednesday morning.



The incident is the first where a member of the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty knocks down a Russian plane in half a century. If Russia shot down a Turkish plane, Turkey probably declare under attack and requested military assistance to its allies in NATO.

The situation is also alarming because both the president of Russia as Turkey are strong leaders who refuse to recant.

Missile systems S-400 will be sent to the air base in the Syrian Hemeimeem coastal province of Latakia, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the Turkish border. The systems have a range of 400 kilometers (250 miles) and are capable of hitting Turkish jets with deadly accuracy.

Putin said the plane was in Syrian skies as he went down the action and described Turkey as a "crime" and a "stab in the back".

He said the Russian Foreign Ministry warning to citizens not to visit Turkey was necessary "because we can not exclude other incidents after what happened yesterday and our citizens in Turkey may be at significant risk."

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