Russian missile suspected of hitting northern Cyprus, says FM
An object which hit northern Cyprus overnight appears to have been a Russian-made missile, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Monday.
- World
- Compiled from news agencies
- Published Date: 12:19 | 01 July 2019
- Modified Date: 12:20 | 01 July 2019
A missile landed near a village in Turkish Cypriot capital Lefkosa late Sunday is believed to be a Russian S-200, a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) official said on Monday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said the cause of the explosion is suspected to be a missile that missed its target and fell in the TRNC.
Özersay said on Facebook that the incident took place in Taskent village located between Lefkosa and northern Girne.
"The first assessment is that a Russian-made missile, which was part of the air defense system that took place last night in the face of an airstrike against Syria fell into our country ... after it missed its target," he wrote.
Özersay also said he spoke on the phone with Turkey's Chief of General Staff Yaşar Güler about the incident and a news conference will be held shortly.
Syrian regime's official news agency SANA claimed that Israel conducted airstrikes in the outskirts of Damascus and in some military targets in Homs city. Israeli authorities did not confirm the airstrikes yet.