Special to WorldTribune.com

The Kremlin on Nov. 26 confirmed that Russia unleashed “massive strikes” near the Turkish border in retaliation for Turkey shooting down a Russian Su-24.

The Russian air strikes zeroed in on anti-Assad regime rebel strongholds along the Syrian border with Turkey, with opposition sources saying the strikes hit the northern Syrian town of Saraqeb near the rebel-held border crossing of Bab Al Hawa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin cut off Moscow’s hotline to Ankara after the Su-24 was shot down. Putin also ordered the deployment of S-400 missile systems to Hemeimeem air base in Latakia, about 30 miles south of the border with Turkey.

One of the pilots of the shot down Su-24 died and a second crew member who ejected from the plane safely made his way back to a Russian air base in Syria. Rebel forces in the area were said to have shot down a Russian helicopter that was searching for the pilots.

“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,” Russian military official Igor Konashenkov said. “The terrorists operating in that area and other mysterious groups were destroyed.”

Russia had first launched retaliatory strikes on Nov. 25, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.

Jahed Ahmad, a spokesman for a Syrian militia brigade in the region, said the Russians were taking “revenge.”

  Russia retaliates with air strikes near Turkey border, Russian Su-24 shot down, Saraqeb, Valdimir Putin, WorldTribune.com