As the mess in Syria gets worse, we got a new front raising concerned today. The Russians sent a drone aircraft out of Syria and over Turkey. The Turks shot it down.
As of now, the Russians have yet to admit that the drone is theirs or to explain why it was flying over Turkish airspace. There is little doubt, however, that this is a Russian UAV. Others like it were shot down by the Ukrainians in their conflict with the Russians. None of the other combatants in Syria have anything with this design among their arsenals.
So why would the Russians send a drone over Turkey? The most likely explanation is either a mistake or a mechanical problem. The drone was buzzed by Turkish jets three times before it was shot down, however, so if it was there by mistake, then it was not one that the Russians tried to correct. Another possibility is that the drone is Russia's way of telling the Turks to keep out of Syria. No one in Ankara wants to have an "accident" in which either a Turkish or Russian manned plane is shot down. This could be Russia's way of playing "chicken" with the Turks. If Turkey backs away from any confrontation, it will be another confirmation of how Moscow is controlling the situation in Syria.
It will be interesting to see what the State Department has to say about this incident. Given the inability of the State Department to understand what is happening in Syria, the most likely response from State is that the North Koreans are to blame.
As of now, the Russians have yet to admit that the drone is theirs or to explain why it was flying over Turkish airspace. There is little doubt, however, that this is a Russian UAV. Others like it were shot down by the Ukrainians in their conflict with the Russians. None of the other combatants in Syria have anything with this design among their arsenals.
So why would the Russians send a drone over Turkey? The most likely explanation is either a mistake or a mechanical problem. The drone was buzzed by Turkish jets three times before it was shot down, however, so if it was there by mistake, then it was not one that the Russians tried to correct. Another possibility is that the drone is Russia's way of telling the Turks to keep out of Syria. No one in Ankara wants to have an "accident" in which either a Turkish or Russian manned plane is shot down. This could be Russia's way of playing "chicken" with the Turks. If Turkey backs away from any confrontation, it will be another confirmation of how Moscow is controlling the situation in Syria.
It will be interesting to see what the State Department has to say about this incident. Given the inability of the State Department to understand what is happening in Syria, the most likely response from State is that the North Koreans are to blame.
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