Russian warplanes have flown their first combat mission with the US-led coalition in Syria

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REUTERS/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via Reuters

Russian ground staff members work on a Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet at the Hmeymim air base near Latakia, Syria, in this handout photograph released by Russia's Defence Ministry October 22, 2015.

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian Defense Ministry says its warplanes have flown first combat mission in Syria with US-led coalition aircraft.

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The idea of Russian and US jets carrying out joint air operations over Syria would mark a drastic change in operations. The two nations have been backing opposite sides in the country's civil war, and Russian and US jets have previously come close to having worrisome confrontations in the air.

However, it is plausible that the aircraft carrying out joint-operations with the Syrians belonged to coalition partner Turkey. Defense contractor Daniel Trombly has tweeted that Russian sources claim the Kremlin's jets flew with Turkish aircraft over Syria, with target coordinates being provided by the US.

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