Western Media Reveals Downed Russian Jet Was Pounding Al Qaeda & Friends When Shot Down

In an article headlined on the Drudge Report this morning, Reuters has confirmed that terrorists are present in the area where the Russian plane was shot down yesterday.

Notice the words "al Qaeda's Nusra Front":

"YAYLADAGI, Turkey (Reuters) - Russian forces launched a heavy bombardment against insurgent-held areas in Syria's Latakia province on Wednesday, near where a Russian warplane had been shot down by Turkey the day before, rebels and a monitoring group said.

At least 12 air strikes hit Latakia's northern countryside as pro-government forces clashed with fighters from al Qaeda's Nusra Front and Turkmen insurgents in the Jabal Akrad and Jabal Turkman areas, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said."

This runs contrary to U.S. claims, including those made by Mark Toner at the State Department's Daily Press Briefing yesterday, that Russia was bombing only "moderate" groups near the Turkish border.

For example, Toner said as follows:

“But we also need Russia to recognize the fact that – and the President spoke to the ongoing problem with Russia – that it’s operating very close to Turkish border – Turkey’s border, rather, and have been going after and targeting the moderate Syrian opposition, and that those circumstances might have led to this kind of situation occurring.”

I don't believe a thing coming from the State Department and neither should you.

They need to stop shilling for their Operation Cyclone creation, al Qaeda.

Incidentally, Toner also justified the shooting of one of the Russian pilots who had ejected and was coming down with a parachute. Note that this is an unambiguous war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

You can read Toner's stuttering equivocations here. I believe the man will soon be going the way of his recent predecessors Jen Psaki and Marie Harf. He is just screaming for an upward demotion.