US forces shoot down Syrian jet for the first time in move described as 'self defence'
US forces shoot down Syrian jet for the first time in move described as 'self defence'
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A Syrian jet plane
- Harriet Alexander, new york
A United States warplane shot down a Syrian military aircraft for the first time on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the long-running conflict.
The SU-22 fighter jet was targeted after it dropped bombs near US-backed fighters in Syria, the US military said, and came down near Tabqa.
The US Central Command issued a statement saying the plane was downed "in collective self-defence of Coalition-partnered forces" and that the US did not seek a fight with the Syrian government or its Russian supporters.
The soldiers the US were defending were identified as fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Syrian army said earlier that the plane was shot down during a combat mission against Islamic State militants.
Syrian military said the pilot died in the incident, which would mark the first “air-to-air” kill since Operation Allied Force in 1999.
According to a statement from the Pentagon, pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces-held town of Ja'Din, south of Tabqah in northern Syria, wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town.
Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the town, the Pentagon said. Following the pro-Syrian forces attack, the coalition called its Russian counterparts "to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing," according to the statement.
A few hours later, the Syrian SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters and, "in collective self-defense of coalition-partnered forces," was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet, the Pentagon said.
"The coalition's mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria," the Pentagon said, using an abbreviation for the Islamic State group. "The coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend coalition or partner forces from any threat. "
America has been flexing its muscles in Syria ever since President Donald Trump came to power, with a pledge to give more power to the Pentagon.
He strongly criticised his predecessor, Barack Obama, for his inability to resolve the Syrian civil war – even blaming Mr Obama for creating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
US forces shoot down Syrian jet for the first time in move described as 'self defence'
0 Comments
A Syrian jet plane
- Harriet Alexander, new york
AUnited States warplane shot down a Syrian military aircraft for the first time on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the long-running conflict.
The SU-22 fighter jet was targeted after it dropped bombs near US-backed fighters in Syria, the US military said, and came down near Tabqa.
The US Central Command issued a statement saying the plane was downed "in collective self-defence of Coalition-partnered forces" and that the US did not seek a fight with the Syrian government or its Russian supporters.
The soldiers the US were defending were identified as fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Syrian army said earlier that the plane was shot down during a combat mission against Islamic State militants.
Syrian military said the pilot died in the incident, which would mark the first “air-to-air” kill since Operation Allied Force in 1999.
According to a statement from the Pentagon, pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces-held town of Ja'Din, south of Tabqah in northern Syria, wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town.
Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the town, the Pentagon said. Following the pro-Syrian forces attack, the coalition called its Russian counterparts "to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing," according to the statement.
A few hours later, the Syrian SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters and, "in collective self-defense of coalition-partnered forces," was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet, the Pentagon said.
"The coalition's mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria," the Pentagon said, using an abbreviation for the Islamic State group. "The coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend coalition or partner forces from any threat. "
America has been flexing its muscles in Syria ever since President Donald Trump came to power, with a pledge to give more power to the Pentagon.
He strongly criticised his predecessor, Barack Obama, for his inability to resolve the Syrian civil war – even blaming Mr Obama for creating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
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