Syria slams Turkey’s downing of Russian jet as ‘a new crime’

“Considering that the Russian air group is fighting against the IS (Daesh), then, of course, the attack is an extremely radical measure,” said Zeman on Tuesday, adding that the move could “only make the atmosphere worse.”

The comments came hours after Ankara announced that its aircraft had downed a Russian fighter jet after the warplane allegedly violated Turkey’s airspace. Russia denied the accusation that the bomber was flying in the Turkish airspace.

The Czech president said Turkey’s attack on the jet again fuels previously-raised suspicions that Ankara is supporting the terrorists in Syria. “Sometimes, a suspicion is voiced that Turkey is informally interacting” with Daesh, a Takfiri terrorist group operating in Syria.

Following the downing of the Sukhoi Su-24, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin described the move as a “stab in the back,” saying it will have “serious consequences” for Moscow-Ankara ties.

“Today’s loss is a stab in the back by the accomplices of terrorism,” Putin said, adding that Turkey is helping finance Daesh through oil sales.

Reactions poured in over the incident with many Western leaders warning that such actions could further complicate the situation in Syria.

Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, appealed for “cool heads” during what he called a “dangerous moment,” while a United Nations spokesman in Geneva said the gunning down of the Russian fighter jet could complicate the war on terror in Syria.