Russia posts provocative tweet warning US on Syria, mocking Earnest

The Russian government is ratcheting up warnings – on Twitter – to the U.S. government not to interfere with its military operations in Syria, even suggesting American aircraft could be targeted by its “air defense systems.”

In a provocative tweet Wednesday, the Russian embassy in Washington posted a side-by side photo of White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest and the Russian S-300 missile system.

With the military apparatus pointed toward the image of Earnest, a caption says Russia wants the system because they “never really know what kind of assistance terrorists might get.” The tweet says Russia will take “every defensive measure necessary” to protect their personnel in Syria.

The tweet comes after the U.S. and Russia suspended direct talks over Syria operations — and amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the bloody civil war in which Vladimir Putin’s forces are backing Bashar Assad while the U.S. tries to focus on taking out ISIS.

Asked what message the Russians might have been trying to send, Earnest tried to laugh off the social media salvo.

“I have no idea what message they were trying to send. If they’d like better pictures, though, I’m happy to send some,” Earnest joked at Wednesday’s briefing.

The photo coincides with other recent threats by Russian officials that Moscow would respond militarily to any perceived interference as the country boosts its military presence in Syria.

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