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2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident

Coordinates: 36°13′16″N 37°18′37″E / 36.2211°N 37.3104°E / 36.2211; 37.3104
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2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident
Part of the Turkish military intervention in Syria, the Russian military intervention in Syria, and the Russia–Turkey proxy conflict

A Tupolev Tu-22M (similar to the incident aircraft)
Date08:40 UTC, 9 February 2017
Location
al-Bab, Syria
36°13′16″N 37°18′37″E / 36.2211°N 37.3104°E / 36.2211; 37.3104
Belligerents
Russia Russian Armed Forces Turkey Turkish Armed Forces
Commanders and leaders
Viktor Bondarev Zekai Aksakallı
Units involved
  • Turkey Special Forces Command
    • Strength
    1 Tu-22M bomber
    Casualties and losses
    3 Turkish soldiers killed
    11 injured

    The 2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident occurred when three Turkish soldiers were killed and 11 injured after a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-22M attacked Turkish soldiers accidentally at al-Bab, Syria.[1]

    Strike

    A Tupolev Tu-22M flying a strike mission against a building in al-Bab, Syria suspected of containing Islamic State fighters, dropped a bomb on a Turkish army position. The bombing killed 3 Turkish troops and injured 11 others. Turkish military officials called the strike "accidental" and an incident of "friendly fire".[2][3] Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, said that the pilots had "guided by co-ordinates" given to them by Turkish personnel and that, "there should not have been Turkish troops at those co-ordinates." This charge was denied by Turkish officials.[4]

    Aftermath

    The Turkish General Staff announced that a Russian war plane targeted Turkish soldiers by accident. After the Russian Government confirmed the action, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and expressed his regret.[5]

    Reactions

    •  Turkey - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli on February 12 slammed a Russian statement on the "friendly fire" in Syria's al-Bab on February 10 that led to the deaths of three Turkish soldiers, describing it as a shame.[6] “The issue is so important that it cannot be dodged with a condolence message,” said Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a post on Twitter over the developments in Syria.[7]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Daren Butler (2017-02-10). "Russian bombing mistake kills three Turkish soldiers in Syria". The Sydney Morning Herald.
    2. ^ "Russian air strike kills Turkish soldiers". BBC News. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
    3. ^ "Three Turkish soldiers killed by Russian military jet in Syria air strike". The Independent. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
    4. ^ "Turkey denies Syria air strike 'mistake'". BBC News. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
    5. ^ Ellis, Ralph (2017-02-09). "Russian airstrike mistakenly kills 3 Turkish soldiers in Syria". CNN. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
    6. ^ "MHP head Bahçeli slams Russian statement on Turkey over 'friendly fire' in Syria". Hurriyet Daily News. 2017-02-12.
    7. ^ "Kılıçdaroğlu says Russia should do more than extend condolences". turkishminute.com. 2017-02-09.
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