US drones are operating over Syria on a mission against the Islamic State terror group
On Wednesday, the United States military released new aerial footage showing Russian fighter jets flying dangerously close to multiple U.S. drones in Syria.
The video, shared by U.S. Air Forces Central, demonstrates Russian SU-35 fighters maneuvering in the path of the drones. They activated parachute flares, forcing the MQ-9 Reapers to take evasive actions.
According to Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the commander of the 9th Air Force in the Middle East, three U.S. drones were conducting a mission against the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria when the Russian aircraft “began harassing the drones” after 10:30 a.m. local time.
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Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich expressed concern over the unsafe and unprofessional behavior exhibited by Russian military aircraft during their interaction with the U.S. aircraft in Syria. He described these actions as a threat to the safety of both U.S. and Russian forces. Grynkewich urged the Russian forces in Syria to stop engaging in such reckless behavior and adhere to the expected standards of conduct for a professional air force. This way, both sides can refocus their efforts on the ongoing mission to defeat ISIS.
In his statement, Grynkewich did not provide detailed information about their mission.
Grynkewich explained that one of the Russian pilots maneuvered their aircraft in front of a drone and activated the afterburner on the SU-35. The afterburner significantly boosts the speed and air pressure of the aircraft. As a result, the strong jet blast from the afterburner impaired the drone operator’s ability to safely control the aircraft.
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Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, who leads the U.S. Central Command, expressed concern over Russia’s violation of ongoing efforts to establish clear airspace in Syria. He emphasized that such actions raise the risk of escalation or misjudgment.
The U.S. Currently has approximately 900 troops stationed in Syria. They collaborate with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in their ongoing fight against Islamic State militants.
No further information was provided regarding the specifics of the drone operation.
There is no information about where these incidents took place in Syria.