Furious but powerless, Turkey left smarting by Russian action in Syria

Russian naval landing ship Azov sails in the Bosphorus as it makes its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, in this October 6, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/Files

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey may be furious about Russian incursions into its air space but beyond words of protest there is little it can do, with its dependence on Russian energy and trade keeping its hands tied, and its own Syria policy in disarray.

President Tayyip Erdogan has said he is losing patience with Russian jets crossing the border after Moscow launched an air campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last week. "An attack on Turkey means an attack on NATO," he warned.