A drone shot down last week by Turkish fighter jets within the country's airspace was Russian-made, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday.
Speaking on Turkey's AHaber TV, Davutoglu said the drone may be an asset of the Syrian government headed by President Bashar al-Assad, or of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), or of other forces.
The drone was downed and seized by the Turkish military last Friday near the border with Syria, and the move came after twice incursions into Turkish airspace by two Russian fighters on October 3 and 4 strained Ankara-Moscow ties.
Russia, which started air raids on Islamic State (IS) targets inside Syria on September 30, said the drone was not its asset.
Davutoglu said that the downing of the drone had a "deterrent" effect and that he hoped Russia would show a "more careful" stance after earlier incursions.
Turkey joined the US-led air raids on Islamic State in July, and the US is arming the PYD in its battle against the IS.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app