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RUSSIA’S DEFENCE MINISTRY has said it will treat US-led coalition planes in Syria, west of the Euphrates River, as targets after the US military shot down a Syrian Air Force jet yesterday.
Moscow has condemned the US downing of the Syrian government fighter jet after it dropped bombs near American partner forces.
The Russian defence ministry said in a statement that, starting today, it will track all jets and drones of the US-led coalition west of the Euphrates and treat them as targets.
The ministry also called on the US military to provide a full account of why it decided to shoot down the Syrian SU-22.
Russia, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has been providing air cover to the government’s offensive on the Islamic State group since 2015.
Yesterday’s downing of the Syrian plane represents a new escalation between the United States and regime forces. It’s the first time an American fighter has targeted a Syrian craft accused by Washington of attacking US-backed fighters.
The incident further complicates the country’s six-year war and comes as a US-led coalition and allied fighters battle to oust the Islamic State group from its Syrian bastion of Raqa.
Government ally Iran also launched missiles from its territory against alleged IS positions in eastern Syria for the first time yesterday, in response to an IS-claimed attack in Tehran.
The Syrian jet was shot down yesterday evening after regime forces engaged fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance battling with US support against IS, in an area close to Raqa.
The American F/A-18E Super Hornet shot down the Syrian SU-22 at around 7pm (local time) as it “dropped bombs near SDF fighters” south of the town of Tabqa, the coalition said in a statement.
It said that several hours earlier, regime forces had attacked the SDF in another town near Tabqa, wounding several and driving the SDF from the town.
The coalition said the Syrian warplane had been shot down “in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defence of Coalition partnered forces”.
Syria’s army disputed the account, saying its plane was hit while “conducting a mission against the terrorist Islamic State group”.
Moscow’s initial response also condemned the US action, with deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov asking, “What is this if not an act of aggression?”.
In its statement today, Moscow accused the US of failing to use the established communication hotline to warn Russia about the downing of the plane.
“The command of the coalition forces did not use the established communication channel for preventing incidents in Syrian airspace,” the defence ministry said.
As a result, it now “ends cooperation with the American side from June 19 based on a memorandum for prevention of incidents and ensuring safety of air flights during operations in Syria, and demands a careful investigation by the US command” of the downing.
Any flying objects, including planes and drones of the international coalition, discovered west of the Euphrates river will be tracked as aerial targets by Russia’s air defences on and above ground.
- Reporting from AFP and Associated Press
The name Erwin Schrodinger will forever remind me of Leonard and Penny’s first date on The Big Bang Theory
Did he live, or is it just more likely that he lived here than didn’t
He was Jewish so I’d imagine from 1938 onwards Vienna wasn’t a very safe place for him.
He wasn’t Jewish, by origin or belief. His personal life was colourful, shall we say. A bit of a lad.
We’d claim anything.
His son got an All Ireland hand ball medal
Erwin O’ Schrödinger he was great craic
First thing that came to mind was The Big Bang Theory :)
I had a cat named after him, was always worried coming home , was always 50/50
Yes we did actually,
Albert Folen (yes the one who make the books) was a Belgian Nazi & he came here
I know Dev loved the Nazi’s but I didn’t think he imported them
That’s just silly.
It’s Monday, Monday’s are my silly days
I’d say you have a silly day most days
People need a bit more silliness.
That is true. Is that why you call yourself right wing?
I find myself to be more stage-right wing these days
Do receptionists believe you when you check into hotels with that name?
Schroedinger was Jewish!!
You must be getting old Steve they say you become more right wing as you get older. No I never usually give my real name when checking into hotels I usually use Jones for my second name. ;)
Has everybody tried “Gizoggle”? Google it and have fun with all websites.
Brilliant
Ahh…..I was actually wondering today what the doodle was about. Thanks for info Journal !
Thats the national inferority complex soothed again for this week.
Wonder did he meet Alosis Hitler and Bridget Dowling when he was here ??Yup Hitlers half brother worked for four years in the Gresham hotel and shacked up with and eloped with a good Dublin girl to Liverpool where he dumped her and went home to Germany.She had a son by him William Patrick Hitler,who was a bit of a lad,and didnt impress uncle Adolf at all. So william emigrated to the USA,and joined the US navy and the Yanks made great value of young William fighting against his uncle.
Wonder why we never claim the good witrh the bad??
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