The US military released a statement that an F/A-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian Su-22 jet that had earlier dropped munitions near US backed fighters. This is thought to be the first aerial kill of an enemy aircraft in almost 20 years by US forces.

The statement said coalition aircraft had “conducted a show of force” to turn back an attack by Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s forces on the SDF in the town of Ja’Din, south of Tabqah.

The coalition said the shootdown took place “in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces.”

“The Coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria,” its statement said. “The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat.” – Fox News

It is being reported that the F-18 that shot down the Syrian jet was based on the USS George H.W. Bush and launched from somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.

Featured image of U.S. Navy sailors preparing to launch an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 15 aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kasey Krall, US Navy