Russian jet downing: US President Barack Obama pledges support for Turkey

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has pledged the US and NATO's support for Turkey's right to defend its sovereignty in the wake of the downing of a Russian aircraft.

Obama's support came during a phone call to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the White House said.

The leaders agreed on the importance of deescalating the situation and pursuing arrangements to ensure that such incidents do not happen again and reiterated their shared commitment to efforts to degrade and destroy ISIL, it said.

Earlier in the day, Obama and French President Francois Hollande called for de-escalation of situation between Turkey and Russia and appealed to the two countries to engage in a dialogue.