Moscow accuses US-led coalition of terror 'complicity' over downed Syria drone
"This type of strike is akin to complicity with terrorism," said Russia's deputy foreign minister
MOSCOW, June 20, 2017 (AFP) - Russia accused the US-led coalition of "complicity with terrorism" on Tuesday after an American warplane downed a drone operated by pro-regime forces in southern Syria.
"In Syria this type of strike is akin to complicity with terrorism," Russia s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency.
The Iranian-made drone was downed Tuesday, just days after a US warplane shot down a Syrian government fighter jet in the country s north.
Following the fighter jet s downing, Moscow suspended an incident hotline intended to prevent confrontations in Syria s crowded air space, and warned it could consider US-led coalition planes "targets".
In Tuesday s incident, the US-led coalition said an F-15E Strike Eagle jet destroyed an armed Shahed-129 drone in the early hours of the morning as it neared the Al-Tanaf base along Syria s eastern border.
"It displayed hostile intent and advanced on Coalition forces," the statement said.
