(ConcernedPatriot.com) – A new video the U.S. military published on Wednesday showed aerial footage of Russian fighter jets flying dangerously close to numerous American drones over Syria.
According to U.S. Air Forces Central, the Russian SU-35 fighters entered the drone’s flight path, detonated fake parachute flares, and forced the MQ-9 Reapers to do evasive maneuvers.
“The Russian aircraft “began harassing the drones” at 10:30 a.m. local time,” according to Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, commander of the 9th Air Force in the Middle East.
Russian aircraft harassed three U.S. drones over Syria, the latest in a series of Russian actions that an American commander called reckless and unprofessional https://t.co/A2wPI8Vsqg
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 6, 2023
Three American drones operated over Syria at the time, carrying out a mission against the Islamic State terrorist organization.
He described the acts as threatening to the safety of the American and Russian personnel, saying that Russian military aircraft “engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior while interacting with U.S. aircraft in Syria.”
“We urge Russian forces in Syria to stop acting in such a careless manner and to conduct themselves in accordance with the standards expected of a professional air force so that we can once again concentrate on the long-term destruction of ISIS.”
He didn’t go into detail about their objective.
The SU-35’s afterburner, which significantly raises its speed and air pressure, was activated by one of the Russian pilots, according to a statement by Grynkewich.
According to Grynkewich, the drone operator’s ability to control the aircraft safely was diminished by the jet explosion from the afterburner.
“Russian interference in current efforts to clear the airspace over Syria,” according to Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, director of U.S. Central Command, “increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation.”
About 900 U.S. forces continue to be stationed in Syria to support the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in their fight against Islamic State jihadists.
🇸🇾🇷🇺🇺🇸 ◾Russian fighter jets continue to intimidate and chase US drones out of Syrian airspace
◾ The United States has published footage showing how our SU-35 fighter "nightmares" the American MQ-9 Reaper drone in Syrian airspace. The pilot of the Russian "bird" approached as… pic.twitter.com/5MEy9G2PcI
— Jos Quinten (@TaranQ) July 6, 2023
The drone action was not further described. The locations of the incidents around Syria were not disclosed either.
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