A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet shot down a Syrian Su-22 on Sunday after the Soviet-era fighter-bomber dropped munitions near U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters, U.S. Central Command officials confirmed.
The strike was believed to be the U.S. military's first air-to-air kill involving fighter aircraft in years.
"A Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet," the command said in a release.
The attack comes after pro-Syrian forces attacked SDF fighters in Ja'Din -- a town south of Tabqah, and a known deconfliction area -- wounding a number of SDF fighters, officials said.
"Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the SDF-controlled town," the release said.
Following the strike, the coalition alerted Russian counterparts to de-escalate the situation.
"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," the command said.
-- Editor's note: This story will be updated.
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at
oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.