Russia vows to shoot down all 'flying objects' in Syria after US guns down first regime warplane

F 18 Advanced Super Hornet

Russia has threatened to shoot down US warplanes operating in parts of Syria where its air forces operate amid a diplomatic row caused by the downing of a Syrian jet.

The country's defence ministry said it would also suspend a hotline between Russia and the US set up to prevent mid-air collisions.

The statement followed after a US F-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian army SU-22 jet on Sunday in the countryside near Raqqa.

Washington said the jet had dropped bombs near US-backed forces but Damascus said the plane was downed while flying a mission against Isis militants.

Russia's Defence Ministry said the suspension of its communication channel with the Americans would begin immediately.

The US did not use its communication channel with Russia ahead of the downing of the Syrian government warplane, the ministry was quoted as saying, accusing the US of a "deliberate failure to ...
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