Turkey has a large air force, navy and army. If they retaliate this could easily involve the Russians, which may be the Syrian plan. Putin is riding a nationalistic fever to new heights of popularity. That would surely change if lots of body bags come home. So far I think the war has been relatively low-cost in terms of Russian lives.
If the Russians start losing lots of people look for them to rapidly escalate to weapons the Turks don’t have. They will probably go to fuel-air bombs and imply they’ll use tactical nukes. Putin simply can’t afford to lose popularity at home. That would combine with other issues to get him removed from power (killed.)
That’s what I was thinking too. This could escalate really quickly.
“If they retaliate this could easily involve the Russians, which may be the Syrian plan.”
It would have to in all likelihood. Assad can’t quite finish the stinkbag jihadis we have mustered, much less a competent combined arms force from a country which has not been eviscerated by foreign fed civil war.
At least, SO FAR Turkey has not been eviscerated by foreign fed civil war.
It was 1 year ago when the Turks shot down the Russian plane on the Syria/Turkey border in disputed territory.
You come to whatever conclusion you want to. This is very very bad. Turkey is NATO (at least for now).
remember:
Incirlik air base
I’m thinking that since Turkey is part of NATO and could drag us into even more stuff.....
Syria going to be the start of World War IV?