28 Mar 2024
TEHRAN (FNA)- Top Military Aide to the Iranian Supreme Leader Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said the downing of the Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber in November was a coordinated move by Ankara and Washington.

"Undoubtedly, what is happening in the region is a war with the geopolitical and geostrategic goals and Turkey is paving a wrong path of strategy in this war," Safavi said, addressing a forum in Tehran on Saturday.

He stressed that Turkey has made strategic mistakes by occupying Northern Iraq, supporting the ISIL in Syria and targeting the Russian fighter jet.

Safavi referred to the collaboration between Ankara and Washington to support the terrorists in the region, and said, "No doubt, the Turkish government couldnt target Russia's Sukhoi-24 bomber without the Americans' permission and they had done prior coordination."

The Turkish Air Forces F-16 fighter on November 24 shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber that Ankara claims violated the countrys airspace on the border with Syria. The Su-24M crew ejected but one of the two pilots was killed by fire from the ground. The second pilot was rescued as a result of a 12-hour operation. During evacuation of the Su-24M crew, a Mi-8 helicopter was lost and a contract marine was killed.

Russias Defense Ministry said the Su-24M was above Syrian territory and "there was no violation of Turkeys airspace." It said the Turkish Air Force fighter violated Syrias airspace.

The Russian permanent representative to the NATO said earlier this month that he provided data to the bloc proving that Turkey deliberately downed the Russian Su-24 plane.

The Russian permanent representative toNATO said Tuesday he provided data toNATO proving that Turkey deliberately downed the Russian Su-24 plane.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Russias Alexander Grushko met withblocs Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow todiscuss the incident.

"Yes, indeed I had talks withDeputy Secretary-General A. Vershbow overthe Su-24 incident. I laid outthe Russian assessment ofthe incident and cited a series ofmilitary and political factors which indicate ofthe intentional nature ofthe attack onthe Russian plane inthe Syrian airspace," Grushko told media.

Grushko noted that NATO was covering upfor Ankara, having not assessed Turkeys actions, and was therefore responsible forthe incident.

By Fars News Agency
https://theiranproject.com/vdcb8fb8zrhb98p.4eur.html
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