For the third consecutive day, Russian fighter jets have continued to engage in hostile actions against United States Air Force (USAF) drones operating in Syria, as stated by Pentagon.
On Friday, July 7th, Russian fighter aircraft once again targeted three MQ-9 drones while they were conducting operations over Syria, as stated in the official announcement.
Throughout the nearly two-hour confrontation, the Russian aircraft executed 18 unprofessional close approaches, further intensifying the gravity of the situation. The close passes by Russian aircraft compelled the MQ-9s to react in order to evade unsafe situations, explained Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the top USAF commander in the Middle East.
“We continue to encourage Russia to return to the established norms of a professional Air Force so we can all return our focus to ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” he said in a statement about Friday’s incident.
On Wednesday, the initial incident occurred as Russian jets deployed parachute flares toward the drones, engaging in dangerously close proximity. Within a span of 24 hours, US Air Force drones operating in Syria faced another bout of hostile actions from Russian fighter jets.
