UK Military Attache to Clarify Alleged Permission to Down Russian Planes

© Flickr / UK Ministry of DefenceFour Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 aircraft
Four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 aircraft - Sputnik International
Subscribe
UK military attache is expected to clarify media reports of the alleged British leadership decision to enable Royal Air Force pilots participating in anti-ISIL coalition's airstrikes in Iraq to shoot down Russian aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry press service said in a statement Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the ministry, the military attache said, he had no information on the issue and would provide an official reply in the nearest future.

"Today, the military attache at the British Embassy in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Defense Ministry, where he was handed a note with a request to provide official explanations on information, published in the British media, citing high-ranking sources in the Defense Ministry of the country, on alleged directives to use weapons against Russian aircraft 'in case of threat to their lives,' received by Royal Air Force pilots," the statement read.

A Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft - Sputnik International
Moscow:UK Should Explain Report of Permission to Hit Russian Jets Over Iraq
Earlier, a UK defense source told the Daily Star Sunday tabloid that British and NATO pilots reportedly had been given a clearance to shoot down Russian jets over Iraq.

UK defense sources stressed that RAF pilots have been told to avoid contact with Russian jets "at all costs," but warned the pilots must be prepared to attack Russian jets "if their lives depend on it."

Russia launched precision airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria last week at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had not received any requests from Baghdad to carry out airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала