Russia has serious grounds to suspect Turkey of preparing for a military
incursion in Syria, where Russian jets are bombing rebel and jihadi fighters,
Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.
"The Russian Defence Ministry registers a growing number of signs
of hidden preparation of the Turkish armed forces for active actions on the
territory of Syria," he said in a statement.
The ministry also hit out at Turkey's refusal to allow Russia to make an
observation in early February over Turkish areas adjacent to Syria, saying
"no specific explanation" was given by Ankara.
"The Russian Defence Ministry regards these actions of the Turkish
party as a dangerous precedent and an attempt to hide the illegal military
activity near the Syrian border," it said.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that agreement on the
observation flight over Turkey requested by Russia under the Treaty on Open
Skies could not be reached on the mission plan, so it did not occur.
In November, Turkish jets shot down a Russian plane flying in Syria, a
move described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "dastardly stab in
the back."
Russian jets have been striking rebel and jihadi fighters for four
months in Syria, including Islamic State militants as well as fighters backed
by Turkey and Gulf Arab states, angering the Turkish government.
Konashenkov said Russian aircraft had carried out 237 sorties in Syria
over the past three days, hitting 875 "terrorist" targets in the
provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir al-Zor, Konashenkov said.