Four Russian Fighter Jets to Escort President Assad's Plane in Visit to Tehran

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's plane will be escorted by four Russian fighter jets during his upcoming visit to Iran, reports said, adding that the US coalition has been alerted to stand down as the Russian jets will have the permission to fire at will at any incoming aircraft. "Four strategic Russian fighter jets will accompany the plane carrying the Syrian president during the visit to and from Iran," the Lebanese al-Diyar daily reported on Sunday. The newspaper also added that the Syrian president is due to travel to Tehran via the Iraqi airspace. "The US-led international coalition's air command has been warned not to approach Bashar Assad's plane to avoid engagement," it said.