A Russian Su-35 intercepts a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Syria
Associated Press – July 25, 2023
A Russian fighter jet flew within a few meters of a US drone over Syria and fired flares at it, striking the American aircraft and damaging it, the latest in a string of aggressive intercepts by Russia in the region.
A senior air force commander said the Russians attempted on Sunday to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky. It came just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region, jeopardizing the lives of the four Americans on board.
“One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, said in a statement on Tuesday. “We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked and unprofessional behavior.”
On July 23 Russian military aircraft deployed flares, damaging a U.S. MQ-9 while conducting a defeat-ISIS mission. For the full statement by Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, Commander, 9th AF (AFCENT) visithttps://t.co/5cQm8MQ6aQ@CENTCOM @DeptofDefense @usairforce @CJTFOIR pic.twitter.com/ViVTI3P05i
— US AFCENT (@USAFCENT) July 25, 2023
Grynkewich said one of the crew members operating the drone remotely kept it in the air and flew it back to its home base.
The Sunday incident is the latest in a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and US aircraft flying over Syria. In all but the one instance a week ago, the US aircraft were MQ-9 drones without crew members. On that Sunday, however, the Russian Su-35 jet flew close to a US MC-12 surveillance aircraft with a crew, forcing it to go through the turbulent wake.
US officials at the time called it a significant escalation in the ongoing string of encounters between US and Russian aircraft that could have resulted in an accident or loss of life. They said the Russian move hampered the crew members’ ability to safely operate their plane.
In recent weeks, US officials said, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly harassed US MQ-9 drones, which are conducting anti-Islamic State group missions, largely in western Syria.
On multiple occasions in the past three weeks, the officials said, Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to the US Reapers, setting off flares and forcing the drones to take evasive maneuvers.
US and Russian military officers communicate frequently over a deconfliction phone line during the encounters, protesting the other side’s actions.
There are about 900 US forces in Syria, and others move in and out to conduct missions targeting Islamic State group militants.
The US has no business flying over or near Syria. As to ISIS, they’re a CIAda operation, and many so say ISIS videos has SAS Nazis dressed as terrorist, which they are.
Remember Basrah where a car containing 4 SAS were stopped after an exchange of gunfire. The car had high explosives, remote detonators, and weapons. They were taken to Basrah police station for interrogation. Within an hour, a British tank drove into the police station and rescued the SAS Nazi terrorists.
The SAS do this week in, week out, even during periods where the UK Nazi state doesn’t appear to be involved in any obvious conflict. You pay for these terrorist operations.
ISIS, busy destroying historical sites which could debase the Jewish script. ISIS, just an excuse to spy on the Russians and their air defenses. I’m sure these air defenses are tasked to spot any attack heading towards Iran. The Russians can see stealth, and I’m sure Iran also can, but an extra 10 minutes warning is very handy.
The US has no business flying over or near Syria. As to ISIS, they’re a CIAda operation, and many so say ISIS videos has SAS Nazis dressed as terrorists, which they are.
Remember Basrah where a car containing 4 SAS were stopped after an exchange of gunfire. The car had high explosives, remote detonators, and weapons. They were taken to Basrah police station for interrogation. Within an hour, a British tank drove into the police station and rescued the SAS Nazi terrorists.
The SAS do this week in, week out, even during periods where the UK Nazi state doesn’t appear to be involved in any obvious conflict. You pay for these terrorist operations.
ISIS, busy destroying historical sites which could debase the Jewish script. ISIS, just an excuse to spy on the Russians and their air defenses. I’m sure these air defenses are tasked to spot any attack heading towards Iran. The Russians can see stealth, and I’m sure Iran also can, but an extra 10 minutes warning is very handy.
“We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked and unprofessional behavior.”
You talk about unmitigated gall and hypocrisy! Yep, the American Empire is taking its last breath. Can’t you hear it gasping out its last.?
By right, Russia could be and should be hammering those aircraft out of the sky, not to mention incinerating the “900 US forces in Syria” who have no business being there.
Then there was the bloviating imbecile Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich of the Jewnited States who vomited out undeniable proof of his mental retardation by whining for “an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked and unprofessional behavior” of the Russians in Syria. Never mind the fact that the Russians were asked to be there while the Americunts are there completely illegally to steal oil and foment chaos.
The only reason US forces are flying over Syria is to guard the Americans stealing the Syrian Oil and to protect any Islamic militant groups that want to overthrow the current Syrian government. There are no other reasons!!
RIGHT SO !
defend Assat ! he did not want rule Syria but he had to
to defend his people against ZIO/US/UK Imperialists .