RAQQA PROVINCE, Syria, June 18, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — U.S. led forces in Syria have downed a Syrian military jet in Raqqa province, home to the ISIS insurgency.
It’s the first time since the U.S. entered the conflict that an Assad regime warplane was brought down direct military action.
According to Syrian state television, the Syrian aircraft was taking part in an attack on Islamic State fighters when it was shot down by U.S. coalition forces.
The U.S. military issued a statement saying the action was justified in light of a previous incident when Syrian warplanes dropped bombs in the vicinity of US-backed fighters and injured a number of troops.
“In accordance with the rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition-partnered forces the plane was immediately shot down,” the US military statement said.
