The event is the most recent in a string of collisions between US and Russian planes over Syria. On Tuesday, July 25, the United States said that Russian fighter planes had flared at an American MQ-9 Reaper drone that was operating over Syria.
Russia is urged by the US to maintain restraint
On July 23, 2024 at 12:23 a.m. (EST), a Russian fighter aircraft flew dangerously close to a U.S. MQ-9 drone on a mission to take out ISIS, bugging the MQ-9 and setting up flares from an angle directly above it, with only a few meters of split between aircraft,” according to U.S. Air Forces Central Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich.
According to the air force, the drone’s propeller sustained “serious” damages.
The US drone’s propeller was seriously damaged when the aircraft started dumping flares in front of it, according to the Air Force. The drone’s crew was able to pilot the vehicle and return it to its base of operations, according to a statement from Grynkewich.
The Russian soldiers in Syria were urged by the US Air Force to “immediately stop this reckless, unprovoked, and unethical behavior.”
The Russian fighter planes and US drones flying over Syria have come closer and closer together.
CNN said that according to US authorities, some of the occurrences above Syria went on for quite a while as two hours.
On July 16, “a dangerous and unethical approach” was used by Russian military aircraft to engage a US aircraft in Syria.
Increase in Conflict
The increasing confrontation between the nations over Syria is due to their military’ deployment in the region of North Africa.
In an effort to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia keeps its soldiers in northwest Syria, while the US has about 900 troops attacking the IS terrorist group in eastern Syria.
A US MC-12 was carrying out operations in support of the Coalition’s Defeat ISIS mission when it was closely approached by a Russian Su-35 in violation of established rules and regulations, forcing the MC-12 to fly through its wake turbulence, according to a statement from Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, dated July 18.
He also commented that this particular incident put the lives of the four crew members at peril and impaired their ability to operate the aircraft safely. Those actions by Russian aircraft flying over Syria reveal a new level of irresponsible and unprofessional conduct. They admonish Russian servicemen in Syria to stop acting recklessly and threateningly since this might result in an accident and fatalities, and to adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional force.
