WASHINGTON: The US military said Russian jets flew dangerously close to American planes over northwest Syria for a second time on Thursday after a similar incident Wednesday.
The US Central Command has released videos of both dangerous incidents.
US Air Forces Central Command head Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich said in a statement that the dangerous incident took place around 9:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on Thursday.
He said that the Russian jet dropped flares in front of the US drones and came dangerously close, putting at risk the safety of jets involved.
US Air Forces Central Command spokesman Colonel Michael Andrews said that the Russian harassment, including close fly-bys by SU-34 and SU-35 jets and deploying flares directly into the MQ-9 lasted nearly an hour, Al jazeera reported citing Western media outlets.
The spokesman added that it was not a quick fly-by, but much an unprofessional and sustained interaction.
Russian jet harras US drones on Wednesday
Russian planes also harassed US drones over Syria a day earlier. The US Central Command has released videos of the incidents.
The video released on Wednesday showed Russian SU-35 fighter jet closing in on a US MQ-9 Reaper drone and one of the Russian pilots flying in front of it.
Grynkewich said of the first incident that one Russian pilot positioned the aircraft in front of an MQ-9 and engaged afterburner, thereby decreasing the operator’s ability to safely operate the jet.
Grynkewich said on Thursday that the US urges Russian military in Syria to stop this reckless behavior and follow the standards of a a professional air force’s behavior.
Both the United States and Russia are engaged in Syria. The US has focused on war against so-called “Islamic State” militant group in the country, while Russia has been supporting President Bashar Assad.
