"As a result of recent encounters involving pro-Syrian Regime and Russian forces, we have taken prudent measures to re-position aircraft over Syria so as to continue targeting ISIS forces while ensuring the safety of our aircrew given known threats in the battle space," said Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a spokesman at US Air Forces Central Command.
A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Mediterranean Sea. File picture, June 28, 2016.
The US military said on Monday it was re-positioning its aircraft over Syria to ensure the safety of American air crews targeting Islamic State, as tensions escalate following the US downing of a Syrian military jet on Sunday.
