3 Turkish soldiers accidentally killed in Russian airstrike in Syria, Moscow confirms

[Erl]

3 Turkish soldiers accidentally killed in Russian airstrike in Syria, Moscow confirms
Published time: 9 Feb, 2017 15:21Edited time: 9 Feb, 2017 16:19
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Russian Su-34 bomber jets © Igor Kovalenko / Sputnik
Syria unrest
A Russian warplane hit a building housing Turkish soldiers in Al-Bab at 8:40 am local time, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement. The soldiers were taken to hospital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences over the accidental loss of life in the airstrike, in a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

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“President Putin discussed… his recent phone conversation with Turkish President Erdogan. Among other things, he said that he expressed condolences to his colleague over the incident that took place early Thursday morning, when Turkish servicemen were killed as a result of incoordination in Russian Air Force airstrikes against terrorists during the joint operation to liberate al-Bab,” Peskov said.

The head of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, also talked on the phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, expressing his condolences over the incident.

The warplanes were targeting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) sites in the al-Bab area, Gerasimov said in a statement.

Gerasimov and Akar agreed to increase cooperation and information exchange between the Russian and Turkish forces on the ground, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Turkish General Staff says that Moscow and Ankara will carry out a joint investigation into the airstrike.

On November 2015, the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber, which was taking part in Moscow’s anti-terrorist operation in Syria.

The two Russian pilots were forced to eject into terrorist-held areas, with the captain being killed by militant fire as he was descending.

Russia imposed a wave of economic sanctions against Turkey in response to the incident, with the countries requiring over a year to mend relations.
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[WiderMan]

Rest in peace soldiers, mistakes of such kind are common in a crowded battlefield.

 

[Erl]

R.I.P.

 

[Hassan Guy]

Thats not gone well.

 

[Serpentine]

RIP to the soldiers.

 

[500]

Looks like a revenge for failed Assadist attack on Euphrates Shield Forces:

 

[500]

Interesting. Russian newspaper citing sources in Russian MoD confirms my words.

They say that after failed attack on Abu Zandin and losing BMP Assad's Tiger force called Russians to attack Ghuz (Эль-Хус).

http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2017/02/10/677189-polnuyu-versiyu

Note, that Euphrates Shield forces captured Ghuz and Abu Zandin on 1st February while Assad and Russian attacks happened on 9 February.

 

[Natan]

I'm curious how many Turks believe it was an accident that Russians regret about.

 

[xenon54 out]

I'm curious how many Turks believe it was an accident that Russians regret about.

Most are suspicious about this incident i guess.

 

[Natan]

Most are suspicious about this incident i guess.

I'm suspicious too, I must say.
Although surely Russians don't mind to kill some Turkish soldiers, but Russia is so far behind in precision-guided munitions, so they might wanted to hit somewhere else, but missed.

 

[xenon54 out]

I'm suspicious too, I must say.
Although surely Russians don't mind to kill some Turkish soldiers, but Russia is so far behind in precision-guided munitions, so they might wanted to hit somewhere else, but missed.

They claim they bombed coordinates given by Turkish army while Turkish army says the coordinates have been given to Russians one day prior to the attack as friendly, it might also be a communication mistake but that would be a major **** up if thats the case.

Today they say SAA reached the temporary border that was agreed on with Turkey, the next couple days will tell whether it was a mistake or not.