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Australia suspends airstrikes in Syria following Russian threat

June 20, 2017 at 9:47 am

Syrians inspect the debris after the Assad Regime carried out airstrikes in Damascus, Syria on 1 May 2017 [Samir Tatin/Anadolu Agency]

Australia said today it had suspended airstrikes into Syria following the US downing of a Syrian military jet and Russia’s subsequent threat against US-led coalition aircrafts.

Yesterday Russia said it would treat US-led coalition aircrafts flying west of the River Euphrates in Syria as potential targets and track them with missile systems and military aircrafts, but stopped short of saying it would shoot them down.

“As a precautionary measure, Australian Defence Force (ADF) strike operations into Syria have temporarily ceased,” Australia’s Department of Defence said in a statement.

Read: White House says it retains right to self-defence in Syria; Moscow warns Washington

Russia made clear it was changing its military posture in response to the US downing of a Syrian military jet on Sunday, something Damascus said was the first such incident since the start of the country’s conflict in 2011.

“ADF personnel are closely monitoring the air situation in Syria and a decision on the resumption of ADF air operations in Syria will be made in due course,” Australia’s Department of Defence said, adding its operations in Iraq would continue as part of the coalition.

“Australian Defence Force protection is regularly reviewed in response to a range of potential threats,” it said.