Politics
08:35, 19-Jun-2017
US-led coalition downs Syrian warplane over Raqqa
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The US-led coalition in Syria shot down a government warplane over the country's northern city of Raqqa on Sunday, the Syrian army said in a statement.
The plane was downed over Rasafeh in the southern countryside of Raqqa. The aircraft was carrying out a combat mission against ISIL.
According to the Syrian government, the move was an act of flagrant aggression and evidence of America’s support for terror groups.
Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) hold a position in the al-Dariya neighborhood of the Syrian city of Raqqa, on June 18, 2017, during an offensive by US-backed fighters to retake the ISIL group bastion. /VCG Photo
Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) hold a position in the al-Dariya neighborhood of the Syrian city of Raqqa, on June 18, 2017, during an offensive by US-backed fighters to retake the ISIL group bastion. /VCG Photo
The "flagrant attack was an attempt to undermine the efforts of the army as the only effective force capable with its allies ... in fighting terrorism across its territory," the Syrian army said.
Moreover, the military statement said "the attack expose the standing coordination between the United States and the terrorist Daesh group," using the Arabic name of ISIL.
US Central Command in a statement said the Syrian plane was downed "in collective self-defense of Coalition-partnered forces," identified as fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near Tabqah.
Smoke billows from buildings in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa on June 18, 2017, during an offensive by US-backed fighters to retake the ISIL group bastion./VCG Photo
Smoke billows from buildings in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa on June 18, 2017, during an offensive by US-backed fighters to retake the ISIL group bastion./VCG Photo
It said "pro-Syrian regime forces" had earlier attacked an SDF held town south of Tabqa and wounded a number of fighters, driving them from the town.
The US-led coalition has in recent weeks escalated its aerial bombing campaign in northern Syria and the Raqqa province. US-backed forces have encircled the city of Raqqa and captured several districts from the militants.
The Syrian army has also taken territory from retreating ISIL militants in the western Raqqa country side, seizing oil fields and villages that had been under militant control for nearly three years.
(Source: Xinhua, Reuters)
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