A US fighter aircraft has shot down an Iranian-made drone in Syria, the latest in a series of incidents stoking tensions in the war torn country.

The Pentagon said the pro-government drone "displayed hostile intent and advanced on coalition forces" near Syria's border with Iraq.

It was the second time this month US-led forces have shot down an Iranian drone, and it comes days after the US downed a Syrian government plane for the first time, sparking outrage from Russia and Iran as they back Syrian President Bashar al Assad in the six-year old war. 

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