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UK Denies Alleged Policy Allowing to Strike Russian Jets in Middle East
Kremlin's Sputnik News ^ | 13.10.2015

Posted on 10/12/2015 10:14:02 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

UK Denies Alleged Policy Allowing to Strike Russian Jets in Middle East

03:35 13.10.2015(updated 06:29 13.10.2015)

The British defense ministry put an end to speculation that circulated in the media recently over the ability – and preparedness – of the Royal Air Force to start downing Russian jets in the Middle East.

British defense officials denied reports that Tornado aircraft in the Royal Air Force, which are carrying out air raids in Iraq, are now being equipped with air-to-air missiles, capable of hitting Russian jets in theory, BBC reported.

Prior to this revelation, the tabloid Daily Star reported that British pilots were permitted to attack Russian jets in the Middle East in cases in which their lives were threatened.

The Russian Embassy in London requested the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify the information about the policy amid media reports; the Russian defense ministry additionally handed over a diplomatic note demanding details to the military attaché at the British Embassy in Russia.

Both Defense and Foreign Affairs ministries in London answered in unison, saying that reports about arming Tornado jets with air-to-air missiles, along with any permission for pilots to attack Russians, are contrary to fact.

Jonathan Marcus, a defense and diplomatic correspondent writing for the BBC, noted that, although Tornado airplanes are based in Cyprus and are launching air attacks exclusively in Iraq, they probably “could be flying over Syria on intelligence gathering missions,” which means encounters with Russian jets would become unavoidable.

Under international law, one state is permitted to use military force in the territory of another country only if authorities of that country are demanding assistance, on the basis of a UN Security Council resolution, or on grounds of national security defense purposes. Russia launched its air force operations in response to a request by the legitimate Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad.


TOPICS: Russia; Syria; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: russia; syria; uk

1 posted on 10/12/2015 10:14:02 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Finally...


2 posted on 10/12/2015 10:15:43 PM PDT by 100American (Knowledge is knowing how, Wisdom is knowing when)
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To: 100American

Should be interesting when our ships reach China’s self imposed no go zone.

Boy the world is close to getting in a hot war right now.

Hope not. can’t see a valid reason for american soldiers to be put in harm’s way right now.

except, unfortunately, the air force hitting ISIS. But not very easy for them to shoot one down and obama is making strikes so limited, one needn’t worry.

He’s arming everybody though, except the Kurds. Nobody arms the Kurds.

and why is Turkey in NATO?


3 posted on 10/12/2015 10:27:38 PM PDT by dp0622
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To: 100American; TigerLikesRooster

Yeah. Sorta like someone is trying to get something started isn’t it?

But who? Four republican candidates fell for it if someone is trying to get something started.


4 posted on 10/12/2015 10:30:02 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
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To: 100American

“Under international law, one state is permitted to use military force in the territory of another country only if authorities of that country are demanding assistance, on the basis of a UN Security Council resolution, or on grounds of national security defense purposes. Russia launched its air force operations in response to a request by the legitimate Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad.”

I thought so and said something to this effect yesterday.


5 posted on 10/12/2015 10:32:29 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
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To: Sequoyah101

Yes, despite other allegations of Invasion they are helping a client and friend/ally...


6 posted on 10/12/2015 10:43:34 PM PDT by 100American (Knowledge is knowing how, Wisdom is knowing when)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Another Freeper made a valid point.. If you have air to air... It isn’t to fight against the rebels who don’t have an Air Force. Even if they are defensive weapons, someone has said defend yourselves. It’s only logical. This all just stinks.


7 posted on 10/13/2015 1:49:29 AM PDT by momincombatboots (Back to West by G-d Virginia.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Considering that replacing a single air-to-air missile likely exhausts Britain’s military budget for that year, I’m not surprised that they keep them locked up.


8 posted on 10/13/2015 5:54:18 AM PDT by BobL (REPUBLICANS - Fight for the WHITE VOTE...and you will win (see my 'profile' page))
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To: BobL

You may be right.:-)


9 posted on 10/14/2015 3:25:05 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (The way to crush the bourgeois is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation)
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