Australia to resume airstrikes in Syria

Canberra June 22 (IANS) The Australian Defence Forces (ADF) on Thursday said that it would resume airstrikes in Syria after it announced a temporary halt of all air operations in the war-torn country.

On Tuesday the ADF said it was suspending operations after Russia warned members of the US-led coalition that any aircraft found west of the Euphrates River would be considered a target after an American F/A-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian SU-22 on Sunday reports Xinhua news agency.

The ADF said the suspension has been lifted indicating that the decision to halt operations was only a temporary one.

Following the Russian Ministry of Defence s announcement that it would cease deconfliction efforts with coalition aircraft operating in Syria Australia implemented a temporary operational pause for air strike operations in Syria the ADF said in a statement.

This was a precautionary measure to allow the coalition to assess the operational risk and the suspension has since been lifted.

--IANS
ksk