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US shot down Syrian plane that bombed coalition-backed forces fighting ISIS

SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters was shot down by a US F/A-18E Super Hornet

A US Navy guided-missile destroyer conducts strike ops against Syria on Friday. Photo: Reuters

A US Navy guided-missile destroyer conducts strike ops against Syria on Friday. Photo: Reuters

AFP PTI Washington
A US fighter jet shot down a Syrian regime plane after it dropped bombs on forces fighting the Islamic State in northern Syria, the American-led coalition said.

"At 6:43 pm (local time), a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a US F/A-18E Super Hornet," the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement yesterday.

It said that two hours earlier, forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad attacked Syrian Democratic Forces in the town of Ja'Din south of Tabqah, "wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town." Coalition aircraft then stopped the pro-regime forces' initial advance with a "show of force," the coalition added.

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First Published: Jun 19 2017 | 3:53 AM IST

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