Experts: Downing of Russian jet 'in line with International law'

Turkey’s downing of a Russian military plane violating its airspace is in line with international law practices, according to experts. A Russian fighter-bomber was shot down earlier today by Turkish F-16s after being repeatedly warned about violating Turkish airspace. According to the Turkish military, the plane was shot down near Syria’s Bayirbucak area in line with standard rules of engagement. Media footage showed two parachutes floating to the ground before the aircraft crashed in a plume of smoke in northwest Syria.

A professor of International Relations at Abant Izzet Baysal University, Mehmet Dalar, told Anadolu Agency that a country, of which the airspace is being violated, has the right to “intervene” in accordance with international law, if its warnings are not heeded.

“In such a situation, if a country deems it [the violation of airspace] a close security threat, it can intervene,” Dalar said, adding that Turkey had the obligation of protecting its sovereignty, and its borders close to areas of conflict, even though it was not at war with Syria.

“The plane was downed because the pilots did not heed the warnings [of the Turkish military]. Even if it was downed within Syrian territory, what matters is the violation [of airspace]. The plane may very well have been shot down within Turkish airspace, and it may have crashed on Syrian land. The important thing is whether or not it violated the Turkish airspace. If it did, then Turkey’s downing it is in line with international law,” he said.

See below International reactions 

See below International reactions 

UN chief: ‘seriously concerned’ about downing of Russian warplane

Erdogan: Everyone should respect Turkey’s right to protect its own borders

Obama: ‘Turkey, like any country in the world, has the right to defend its sovereignty’

UK: We respect Turkey’s right to protect its airspace. There are procedures in place for flying through a country’s airspace.