Turkey shot down a Russian fighter-jet

Turkey shot down a Russian fighter-jet on its border with Syria, claiming the aircraft had violated its airspace. Russia is carrying out air strikes in Syria. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, called Turkey’s action a “stab in the back” and accused it of supporting Islamic State. Barack Obama said that Turkey had a right to defend its borders, but that America would also be willing to work more closely with Russia in the fight against IS. See here and here. 

François Hollande, the president of France, went on a whirlwind tour to whip up support for a “grand coalition” against IS following the recent attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people. He visited several leaders, including Mr Obama. David Cameron, the British prime minister, laid his case before Parliament for air strikes in Syria (British jets only operate in Iraq). Germany may share further aerial intelligence with France. But none has gone as far as Mr Hollande in declaring “war” on IS. See article. 

And on and onThe government in Belgium locked down Brussels, the capital, for four days over fears of an imminent terrorist attack. Schools, public transport and businesses were closed, concerts and sporting events cancelled. Police raided 22 locations in search of suspects linked to the Paris atrocity. See article. 

Gunmen attacked a luxury hotel in Bamako, the capital ofMali, killing at least 20 people. The assailants also died. It was not clear who the terrorists were, though police guessed they belonged to a jihadist group. A ten-day state of emergency was declared in the country, where around 1,000 French troops are deployed to fight against Islamic militants.

A suicide-bomber killed at least 12 troops on a presidential-guard bus in Tunisia. The attack was claimed by Islamic State. IS was also in action in Egypt’s North Sinai, where seven people were killed in a hotel bombing.

One Israeli soldier died and at least five others were injured in the West Bank as a spate of attacks by Palestinians, using knives and car-rammings, continued. John Kerry, the American secretary of state, visited both Israel and the West Bank, and admitted that he hopes only for a decrease in tension, not a resumption of peace talks that stalled in 2014. See article.