A U.S. military drone was damaged when a Russian fighter jet flew within a few meters of it over Syria and fired flares at it, the U.S. military said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Sunday and was an attempt by the Russians to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky. This comes just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region.
Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the head of U.S. Air Forces Central, stated that one of the Russian flares struck the MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller. He called upon the Russian forces in Syria to immediately stop this reckless behavior. Fortunately, one of the crew members operating the drone remotely was able to keep it in the air and fly it back to its home base.
This incident is part of a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and U.S. aircraft flying over Syria. In recent weeks, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly harassed U.S. MQ-9 drones conducting anti-Islamic State group missions in western Syria. There have been close encounters, with Russian fighter jets flying dangerously close to the drones and forcing them to take evasive maneuvers.
U.S. and Russian military officers communicate frequently over a phone line during these encounters to protest each other’s actions. U.S. officials have called these encounters a significant escalation and a potential threat to the safety of the crews and aircraft involved.
Currently, there are about 900 U.S. forces in Syria conducting missions targeting Islamic State group militants.
Unique Perspective:
It is concerning to see the continued escalation of encounters between U.S. and Russian military aircraft over Syria. These incidents not only put the lives of the crews at risk but also have the potential to spark a larger conflict. It is in the best interest of both countries to maintain open lines of communication and work towards de-escalation in order to avoid any further dangerous incidents in the region.
