Zev Porat

Thursday, February 7, 2013

WAR DRUMS! Japan scrambles Fighters after Russian jets enter airspace


In this photo taken by Japan Air Self-Defense Force and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan, a Russian fighter jet SU-27 flies over the sea off the Japanese island of Hokkaido Thursday afternoon, Feb. 7, 2013. The Defense Ministry said two SU-27 jets, including the one shown in this photo, briefly intruded into Japanese airspace in the afternoon off the coast of Rishiri island on Hokkaido's west coast, prompting Japan’s air force to scramble jets. (AP Photo/Joint Staff Office of Defense Ministry of Japan)TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Defense Ministry said two Russian fighter jets briefly intruded Thursday into Japanese airspace as the country was holding rallies demanding that Moscow return a group of disputed islands.
Japan's Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. Russia, however, denied any border violation.
The incident occurred as Japan was observing "Northern Territories Day," when it holds annual rallies urging Moscow to return the islands, seized by the Soviet Union in the final days of World War II.
Defense Ministry official Yoshihide Yoshida said Japanese air force jets scrambled after an intrusion by two Su-27 jets which lasted just over a minute.

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