File image.
An MQ-9 Reaper drone of the United States-led coalition dangerously approached a fighter jet of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in Syrian airspace, Captain 1st Rank Oleg Ignasyuk, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria said on September 17.
“A coalition’s MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance combat unmanned aerial vehicles dangerously approached a Su-35 plane of the Russian aerospace forces making a planned flight over Syria’s Homs governorate,” he said.
The Russian pilot demonstrated high professionalism and took timely measures to prevent a collision, the military official noted.
The U.S.-led coalition expanded its aerial operations over Syria last year, which led to unprecedented tensions with the Russian side.
In the last few months, several aerial encounters were reported by the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria. None of the encounters caused losses.
The coalition’s operations in Syria, which are allegedly meant to contain ISIS remnants, are not authorized by the country’s government who consider the coalition to be an occupation force. On the other hand, the Russian military operates against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria under an agreement with the government.
The U.S. attempts to expand its aerial operations over Syria will not likely lead to a confrontation with the Russian military. Nevertheless, this very dangerous behavior could eventually cause a serious incident in the country’s airspace.
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