PRAGUE, December 2. /TASS/. The situation with the downed Russian jet demonstrated the real intention of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to prevent the success of the military operation against terrorists in Syria, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Czech Television in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.
"I think this (downed Russian jet) showed Erdogan’s real intention as he could not cope that the Russian operation (in Syria) changed the balance of power on the ground," Assad said. "This is Erdogan’s failure in Syria. The failure of his terrorist groups means the end of his political career, and he wanted to do anything to hinder the success (of the military operation in Syria)," Assad added.
"I do not think that it will change the balance. The war against terrorism continues. Russian support will be stronger, and I don’t think there is a way back," the Syrian President added.
Terrorists are financed through Turkey with support of Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Terrorists are financed and supplied weapons mostly through Turkey with support of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Syrian President said.
"If you really want to fight and defeat them (terrorists), then it is necessary to cut off their supplies of ammunition, weapons, money, which they mostly get through Turkey with the support of Saudi Arabia and Qatar," Assad said.
Peace will come to Syria if the West and its allies in the Middle East will "stop supporting terrorists," Syrian President told Czech Television.
Answering a question on what is needed for the four-year civil in Syria to stop, Assad said: "When the counties that I mentioned - France, Great Britain, USA, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others stop supporting terrorists, the situation will improve the next day. And in several months peace will definitely come to Syria if they (Western countries) stop."
The downing of Russian Su-24 bomber by Turkey
On November 24, the Turkish Air Force’s fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-24M bomber. Ankara claims the Su-24M bomber violated the Turkish air space in the area of the border with Syria.
However, Russia’s Defence Ministry has said the Su-24M plane stayed exclusively over the Syrian territory and "there was no violation of the Turkish air space."
The crew of the Su-24M bomber managed to eject but one of the pilots was killed by gunfire from the ground. The second pilot was rescued and taken to the Russian air base.
Russian military operation in Syria
On September 30 Russia’s Federation Council unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to launch a military operation in Syria against Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (outlawed in Russia). Russian Aerospace Defense Forces delivered first targeted airstrikes at militants’ positions on the same day. More than 50 jets and helicopters take part in the operation, including Su-34 and Su-24M fighter jets, Su-25 aircraft, Su-30SM fighter aircraft, and Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. Since the start of the operation, Russian aviation made hundreds of sorties, destroyed dozens of ammunition depots, explosives production plants and command posts.