The already dire situation in Syria threatened to expand over the weekend after the US shot down a Syrian warplane. Russia has condemned the action, “suspending the use of a military hotline that Washington and Moscow have used to avoid collisions in Syrian airspace and threatening to target aircraft flown by the United States and its allies over Syria.” From the NYT: Russia Warns U.S. After Downing of Syrian Warplane.

+ “The US considers a pilot with at least five confirmed kills to be an ace – but no serving pilot holds the title.” From BBC: Why are air combat kills so rare?

+ As seen in a collection of photos that is at once sad and hopeful, a Syrian town breaks Ramadan fast with Iftar among rubble.