Jun. 20, 2017 10:43 AM ET
The Latest: US
says it downed Iran-made drone in Syria
BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on the developments in
Syria (all times local):
5:45 p.m.
The U.S. military says it shot down an
Iranian-made, armed drone in southern Syria.
A defense official says the drone was approaching
a military camp near the Syria-Jordan border. That is where U.S. forces have
been training and advising local Syrian Arabs for the fight against Islamic
State militants.
The official says the drone was considered a
threat, and was shot down by a U.S. F-15 fighter jet.
The official was not authorized to be quoted by
name and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official says the drone was a Shaheed 129 and
appeared to have been operated by "pro-regime" forces.
It was the second time this month that the U.S.
has shot down an armed drone in the vicinity of the camp at Tanf.
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4 p.m.
The U.N. children's agency says the European
Union has donated 90 million euros ($100.3 million) that will help provide critical
services and support to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.
UNICEF said in a statement Tuesday that the
donation on World Refugee Day will help it along with host countries to provide
hundreds of thousands of children and young people with access to education,
vocational training and psychological support.
It said the latest contribution brings the total
funding from the EU Trust Fund for UNICEF's work on the Syria crisis response
to nearly €200 million ($223 millions).
The announcement came days after UNICEF appointed
its newest Goodwill Ambassador, Syrian Muzoon Almellehan, 19, the first person
with official refugee status to become an Ambassador for UNICEF.
It said around 2 million children from Syria live
as refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, adding pressure on already stretched
support systems.
