THIS is the moment an American warplane locks on to a Russian tank in Syria and blows it to bits within an instant.
Footage has been released showing T-72 tank being destroyed as the US military boasted it had killed more than 100 mercenaries from Russia in a series of devastating airstrikes.
The deadly raids were the biggest direct clash between US and Russian forces since the end of the Cold War.
The Pentagon said they were designed to protect US backed rebel fighters in Syria on Saturday against forces loyal to dictator Bashar al-Assad - which are in turn supported by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The two sides have previously been careful to keep a communication channel to avoid collisions and confrontation between their warplanes and soldiers in the chaotic battlefield.
It is feared if Moscow and Washington begin fighting each other directly in Syria, a major conflict could begin and spiral into World War 3.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reports needed to be verified.
But analysts believe Russia is using so-called private security firms to avoid deaths among its conscript army which could prove unpopular with its citizens - especially in the year of its presidential election.
Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Russia has told the US there were no Russians in the area of the strike.
But he admitted "Russian contractors" were possibly casualties of the bombing.
Mr Mattis said: "I don't have any reporting that some non-Russian Federation soldiers, but Russian contractors were among the casualties.
"I can't give you anything on that. We have not received that word at Central Command or the Pentagon."
Russian media said the contractors were part of pro-Assad forces that advanced on oil fields in the eastern Deir el-Zour province and were targeted by the United States.
The reports cited activists who confirmed that at least four Russian citizens were killed in Syria last Wednesday.
Last week the US unleashed an air and artillery barrage on Syrian government-backed troops after some 300 attackers launched what appeared to be a coordinated assault on Syrian opposition forces accompanied by U.S. advisers in the province of Deir el-Zour.
It said it was in regular communication with Russian counterparts before, during and after the attack, and Russian officials assured coalition officials they would not strike coalition forces.
It said the US strikes, which reportedly killed about 100 of the attackers, were in self-defence.
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