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US attack on Syrian jet puts Putin under pressure

Russia’s response to the US downing of a Syrian plane Sunday was more measured than some observers seem to realize, but the Kremlin’s patience does have its limits.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a meeting with journalists following a live nationwide broadcast call-in in Moscow, Russia June 15, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTS177P1

On June 18, a US Navy fighter jet downed a Syrian government warplane — the first such incident between the United States and Syria in more than six years of war in the country. The Pentagon said the Syrian jet had attacked US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters near the north-central Syrian town of Ja’din. Syria had a different narrative, saying the plane was downed “in the Raqqa countryside” while Damascus “was carrying out a military operation” against the Islamic State (IS), thus condemning the US attack as an affirmation of its “real stance in support for terrorism.”

The Syrian narrative was almost immediately picked up by Russia. However, the tone of Moscow’s statements was different. The initial response of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov — who is in China for the meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) foreign ministers — was rather measured. On June 19, Lavrov reiterated the necessity to fully respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on the United States and “all others who have their forces or their advisers” in Syria to coordinate their efforts. He also emphasized that actions should be coordinated with Damascus.

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