TENSIONS have escalated dangerously on the Syria-Turkey border, with Russian helicopters conducting a reconnaissance mission there on Saturday, a day after it launched air strikes on Turkish-backed militants. 

Six Russian choppers set off from Qamishlo international airport in north-east Syria and hovered over the border strip with Turkey in a reconnaissance mission, according to local reports. Russia did not disclose its objectives.

On Friday, Russian jets pummelled Islamist groups in the north-eastern countryside in Turkish-controlled Raqqa province.