The U.S. Air Force reported that a dangerous encounter occurred around 10:40 AM on Wednesday when a Russian Su-35 fighter jet approached an American drone over Syria. According to the report, the Pentagon described the interception and unsafe proximity as a new round of unprofessional and unsafe behavior by Russian forces. The U.S. Air Force elaborated on this incident by releasing a video of the confrontation, stating that while three American MQ-9 drones were on a mission against ISIS targets, three Russian fighter jets began to intercept and harass the MQ-9 drones, violating established norms and protocols. The report added that during this unsafe interception, the Russian fighter jet displayed unprofessional and unsafe behavior by launching flares in the path of the American drone. According to the U.S. Air Force report, the Russian jets launched several flares in the path of the American drones, forcing them to perform defensive maneuvers. Additionally, one of the Russian pilots positioned the exhaust of his aircraft in front of the MQ-9 drone, disrupting the operator's ability to safely control the drone by engaging afterburner heat. The Pentagon condemned these actions as another example of unprofessional and unsafe behavior by the Russian Air Force in Syria, stating that such behavior poses a threat to the safety of American forces in Syria. U.S. officials have urged Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the expected standards of conduct for a professional air force. Earlier, Voice of America reported that in a similar provocative move over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 approached an American MQ-9 drone from behind, flew over it, and dumped fuel on the drone. Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, told reporters that he had spoken on the phone with Sergey Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister. He added, 'The U.S. will continue to fly and operate wherever international law allows, and Russia must operate its military aircraft in a safe and professional manner.'
Repetition of Unprofessional Behavior by Russian Aircraft in Encounter with American Drones; This Time Over Syria
The U.S. Air Force reported a dangerous encounter between a Russian Su-35 and an American MQ-9 drone over Syria, which the Pentagon condemned as unprofessional behavior by Russian forces. This incident highlights ongoing tensions and unsafe interactions between U.S. and Russian military operations in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet dangerously approached an American MQ-9 drone over Syria, prompting condemnation from the U.S. Air Force for unprofessional behavior. This incident involved Russian jets launching flares and engaging in unsafe maneuvers that threatened the safety of American forces.
- The encounter occurred while American drones were conducting missions against ISIS.
- This incident follows a pattern of provocative actions by Russian aircraft towards U.S. drones.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. and Russia have been involved in military operations in Syria, often leading to confrontations in the airspace. The presence of Iranian forces in Syria complicates the situation further.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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