Japan sends jets to intercept Russian bombers

Japan has sent four jets F-2 the Japan Self-Defense Forces to intercept two bombers of the Russian Air Force which crossed into the Japanese air space on Thursday, the Japanese defense department said in a statement. It claims that two Russian bombers Tupolev-95 crossed into the Japanese air space at 12:09pm local time (7:09am Moscow time) northwest of the Okinoshima Islands (Fukuoko prefecture). In less than two minutes the Russian planes left this zone, it said. It was the first incident of violation of the Japanese air space by Russian planes since February 2013, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. Japan has issued an official protest with regards to this airspace violation by Russia's Air Force, Kyodo news agency reported.