Russia sent an advanced missile system to Syria on Wednesday to protect its jets operating there and pledged its air force would keep flying missions near Turkish air space, sounding a defiant note after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet.<br />Underscoring the message, Russian forces launched a heavy bombardment against insurgent-held areas in Latakia on Wednesday, near where the jet was downed, rebels and a monitoring group said.<br />President Tayyip Erdogan made no apology, saying his nation had simply been defending its own security and the "rights of our brothers in Syria".<br />He made clear Turkish policy would not change.<br />Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described it as a planned act and said it would impact efforts toward a political solution in Syria.<br />Moscow would "seriously reconsider" its relations with Ankara, he said.
