Russia hints at possible shoot-down of US planes over Syria

Just days after Russia moved an additional advanced anti-aircraft battery to Syria, Moscow hinted toward a possible shoot-down of U.S. or coalition planes that threaten or attack Syrian government troops, which are backed by Moscow.

The U.S. and Russia have a memorandum of understanding designed to avert any confrontation between their warplanes in the skies over Syria, but Moscow says that doesn't apply to its ground-based missile crews.

"Any missile or airstrikes on the territory controlled by the Syrian government will create a clear threat to Russian servicemen," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday, according to Kremlin-backed Russia Today."

"Russian air defense system crews are unlikely to have time to determine in a 'straight line' the exact flight paths of missiles and then who the warheads belong to."

At the Pentagon, a reporter asked spokesman Peter Cook whether the statement represented a threat to U.S. aircraft.