Syrian Army Rescues One of Two Russian Pilots

Local Editor

One of the two Russian pilots, who ejected from the bomber shot down by Turkey on Tuesday, was picked up by the Syrian Army, the Russian ambassador to France has said. He added the pilot was wounded.

"One on board was wounded when he parachuted down and killed in a savage way on the ground by jihadists in the area. The other managed to escape. According to the latest information he has been picked up by the Syrian Army and should be going back to the Russian Air Force base," Ambassador Aleksandr Orlov told Europe 1 radio.

On Tuesday, a Russian Su-24 tactical bomber performing a combat sortie over Syria near the Turkish border was brought down by a Turkish Air Force fighter jet.

Also on Tuesday, videos emerged allegedly showing one of the Russian pilots unconscious and surrounded by armed militants. He was probably dead. His face is bruised and bloodied.

Moscow has suspended military cooperation with Ankara after the jet incident.

Further measures to beef up Russian airbase security in Syria will also be taken.
"We warn that every target posing a potential threat will be destroyed," Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team