By David Wroe
The RAAF (click here) has halted air operations over Syria amid rising tensions with Russia, after the United States shot down a Syrian regime fighter jet.
Defence said in a statement that operations had ceased temporarily as a "precautionary measure" and a decision on resuming air strikes would be made "in due course". Operations in Iraq will continue.
The move follows Russia's declaration that it may view US planes flying in its own area of operations as targets. Tensions have risen rapidly since the US shot down a Syrian regime jet on Sunday near al-Raqqa, the heartland of the so-called Islamic State. The Syrian fighter had been bombing too close to US-backed fighters.
That triggered the bellicose response from Russia, which supports the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad....
The move follows Russia's declaration that it may view US planes flying in its own area of operations as targets. Tensions have risen rapidly since the US shot down a Syrian regime jet on Sunday near al-Raqqa, the heartland of the so-called Islamic State. The Syrian fighter had been bombing too close to US-backed fighters.
That triggered the bellicose response from Russia, which supports the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad....
