Revenge-thirsty Russia smashes 450 Syrian targets in just THREE days in wake of downed jet
RUSSIAN jets have carried out more than 130 sorties across Syria in just the three days since one of their warplanes was downed, striking 450 targets including the border with Turkey in an act of retribution.
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GETTY
Russia has been bombing Syrian targets for several months
Kremlin defence officials confirmed the "massive strikes" just miles from Turkish territory in retaliation for the loss of a Su-24 fighter jet along with its pilot.
That was shot down by Turkey, while Syrian rebels then attacked a rescue helicopter.
A second crew member who ejected from the plane has since been returned to the Russian air force.
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Military
official Igor Konashenkov said: "As soon as our pilot was safe, Russian
bombers and artillery of the Syrian government forces carried out
massive strikes in the indicated area for an extended period.
"The terrorists operating in that area and other mysterious groups were destroyed."
The
airstrikes risk a fresh diplomatic and military escalation with Russia
suspending a hotline to Ankara in anger at the attack.
GETTY
An explosion after airstrikes carried out by Russian air force
EPA
An aerial view of a local command centre and ammunition depot hit by cruise missiles
Two
groups that monitor the conflict - the Britain-based Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees - said the
airstrikes hit a road linking the border town of Azaz with the Bab
al-Salameh border crossing with Turkey.
The Observatory said the warplanes that carried out the second round of airstrikes near Turkey today were Russian.
The number of casualties is not yet clear.
Similar
airstrikes on Wednesday killed seven and wounded 10 people in the same
area, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.
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