Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on Russia’s message to Turkey with its incursions into Turkish airspace:
Aaron Stein, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council, says Ankara is furious because it sees the Russian incursions as a warning to Turkey not to challenge it in Syria.
“Turkey’s historical ally [Russia] is intentionally breaching Turkish air space, obviously to send a message to Turkey,” Stein said. “What’s going on, particularly with the air strikes in the northern part of the country is that they are targeting front lines that are manned by rebels heavily supported by Turkey, whose victories in recent months are what appear to have spurred Syria to begin to look even more to its outside patrons, Russia and Iran, for help.”