Turkish jets force down Syrian passenger flight from Moscow

Turkish fighters jets forced down a Syrian passenger plane on Wednesday, following accusations that it was carrying weapons to the Assad regime from Russia.

Turkish authorities gave few details but local television said the plane was on a flight from Moscow before F16 fighter jets were scrambled to force it to land at Ankara airport.

Other media said the plane was suspected of carrying arms as well as 35 passengers. There was information that it might be carrying "certain equipment in breach of civil aviation rules", the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said.

The only plane scheduled to leave Moscow for Syria yesterday was a Syrian Arab Airlines flight, RB442, to Aleppo, which is being bitterly contested by regime and rebel troops. Its airport remains open despite rebel attacks nearby. RB442 was recorded on flight-tracking websites as delayed last night, with its last recorded position heading from the Crimea into Turkey.

A second passenger plane was forced to land in the Turkish city of Adana, said Louay al-Mokdad, a spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, citing Turkish government sources.

Russia has vetoed attempts to impose international sanctions on Syria at the United Nations Security Council, including an arms embargo.

Turkey is allowing its own borders to be used for shipments of weapons to the opposition from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Russia is likely to protest strongly against its latest action as one-sided, particularly if no weapons are found.

Even if that is the case, the Turkish action is another example of the squeeze being applied to the Assad regime by its neighbours. Turkey also banned its own passenger aircraft from flying over Syria yesterday.

Turkey has bombarded Syrian positions with artillery several times in the past week in response to Syrian shells that crossed over the border.

Meanwhile, American officials confirmed that a detachment of 150 US troops is now operating in Jordan less than 35 miles from the Syrian border.

The troops are intended to help Jordan, a key but fragile US ally, deal with the influx of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. They are also preparing to secure Syria's chemical weapons in the event of the Assad regime losing control of them.

But officials told The New York Times that the possibility of a buffer zone in southern Syria, enforced by Jordanian troops with American logistical support, had also been discussed.