Syria Says Turkey Downing of Russia Jet was 'Flagrant Aggression'

Syria denounced Turkey's downing of a Russian jet over its territory Tuesday as a "flagrant aggression against Syrian sovereignty" and a show of support for "terrorists," state media reported.

"In a flagrant aggression against Syrian sovereignty, the Turkish side this morning brought down a friendly Russian plan on Syrian territory on its return from a combat mission against Daesh," state news agency SANA cited a military source as saying, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.

The incident "demonstrates without a doubt that the Turkish government takes the side of terrorism and gives its support to terrorist groups that have began to collapse under the blows of the Syrian army," the source added.

"These desperate acts of aggression will only reinforce our determination to pursue the war against terrorist organizations with the support and help of our friends, chief among them Russia."

Ankara acknowledged Tuesday it had downed a Russian jet participating in an aerial campaign in Syria that began on September 30, saying the plane violated its territory in the border area.