A US warplane shot down an Iranian-made drone operated by pro-regime forces in southern Syria early on Tuesday, officials said.

It comes days after a US warplane shot down a Syrian government fighter jet, prompting a furious reaction from Russia.

Moscow has now suspended an incident hotline intended to prevent confrontations in Syria's crowded air space, and warned it could consider US-led coalition planes "targets".

The rising tensions prompted Australia to say it was suspending its participation in air raids over Syria as part of the US-led coalition fighting Daesh.

Source: .khaleej Times