Russian fighter jets have been continuously harassing American drones over Syria, according to the U.S. military. This marks the third consecutive day of such encounters, highlighting the ongoing tension between Russian and U.S. troops in the region. Both countries have been conducting patrols on the ground as well as overflights as part of their involvement in Syria’s 12-year conflict, which has resulted in devastating casualties.
The U.S. military released a statement stating that the latest encounter took place on Friday and lasted for approximately two hours. During this time, three MQ-9 drones were once again targeted by Russian fighter aircraft while flying over Syria. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, reported that Russian aircraft performed 18 unprofessional close passes, which forced the MQ-9s to take evasive actions in order to avoid unsafe situations.
Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, who leads the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, revealed earlier in the week that joint training exercises between the Russian and Syrian militaries were underway. These exercises, spanning over six days, aimed to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two forces. Mr. Gurinov also expressed Moscow’s concerns about the flights of drones by the U.S.-led coalition over northern Syria, describing them as systematic violations of protocols designed to prevent clashes between the two militaries.
The tension initially escalated on Wednesday morning when Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior towards three U.S. MQ-9 drones that were conducting a mission against the ISIS terrorist group. The situation worsened on Thursday when Russian fighter aircraft were involved in unsafe encounters with both French and U.S. aircraft over Syrian airspace.
The U.S. and France are part of an international coalition that has been fighting against ISIS, which once controlled significant parts of Syria and Iraq. Despite the terrorist group’s territorial losses in recent years, they still carry out deadly attacks in both countries. In fact, a drone strike conducted by the U.S.-led coalition on Friday resulted in the death of an ISIS terrorist in northern Syria.
Russia has been involved in Syria’s conflict since September 2015 and has played a crucial role in shifting the balance of power in favor of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces. Russian warplanes continue to carry out attacks against the last major rebel stronghold in Syria’s northwest.
Currently, there are at least 900 U.S. forces deployed in Syria on any given day, accompanied by an undisclosed number of contractors who work alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Lt. Gen. Grynkewich expressed the U.S.’s desire for Russia to adhere to professional norms in their Air Force operations, allowing both sides to focus on achieving the enduring defeat of ISIS.
In response, Mr. Gurinov cautioned that the increasing number of uncoordinated flights by coalition drones could lead to escalation, emphasizing that Russia cannot guarantee the safety of these flights.
As tensions persist between Russian and U.S. forces in Syria, the situation underscores the complex dynamics at play in the region and the ongoing challenges faced in maintaining stability amidst a prolonged conflict.
Source link
