U.S. Moves Jets to Ease Syria Tensions Amid Russian Threat
- Russia will track U.S.-led coalition’s planes, drones in Syria
- White House says communications with Russia to be maintained
How Putin Became the Symbol of Russian Power
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The American-led military coalition in Syria said it has repositioned aircraft after Russia threatened to treat its warplanes as targets in response to the U.S. downing of a Syrian government jet.
While air support to U.S.-backed fighters against Islamic State will go on, “as a result of recent encounters involving pro-Syrian Regime and Russian forces, we have taken prudent measures to reposition aircraft over Syria,” U.S. Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, a coalition spokesman, said Monday. Coalition aircraft will continue operations against Islamic State targets “while ensuring the safety of our aircrew given known threats in the battlespace,” he said.