US dismisses Syrian claims of turning back US planes

Syria Sunday claimed for the second time in 24 hours that its air defenses intercepted a US warplane over northern Lebanon and forced it to turn back toward the sea, but the Pentagon denied the claim.

A military spokesman quoted by the official Syrian news agency Sana said the US plane was intercepted, but the term was not explained and the agency did not identify the plane. A Pentagon spokesman said routine reconnaissance flights continue.