Putin fury over RAF threat to Russian jets

Russia’s ambassador to Britain said he has requested an urgent explanation from the British government after a media report Sunday said that British pilots flying anti-ISIS missions have been given permission to shoot down Russian aircraft if threatened. The weapons are designed for aerial combat.

An Foreign Office spokesman said the defence attache had a meeting with the Russian ministry of defence on Sunday.

“The recent escalation will contribute in attracting extremists and jihadists to the war in Syria”, the source said, adding that the Kremlin’s actions would also alienate ordinary Sunni Muslims around the world.

RAF pilots have reportedly been told to avoid contact with Russian jets but have been warned to be prepared to fight back if fired upon.

“The defence attache reiterated the British government’s concerns about Russia’s military operation in Syria, including targeting legitimate opposition groups, using unguided weaponry and leading to large numbers of civilian deaths”.

USA officials have expressed concern about the possibilities of accidental collision or other mishap in airspace that is now being used by Russian warplanes as well as those of the U.S.-led coalition.

The military attache visited the Russian Defense Ministry on October 11.

The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Tornado combat aircraft are said to be equipped with up to four Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) to shoot down a Russian jet they encounter.

The British tabloid, Daily Star Sunday, quoted unnamed senior defence sources as saying it was just “a matter of time” before British fighters were involved in a confrontation with Russian jets over Iraq.

He also reiterated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must quit as part of a process agreed at a Syrian peace conference held in Geneva in June 2012.