WASHINGTON — In a concerning escalation, a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. surveillance aircraft over Syria, placing the lives of the four American crew members at risk, according to U.S. officials on Monday.
The incident occurred shortly before noon EDT on Sunday and represents a significant escalation in a series of encounters between U.S. and Russian aircraft in Syria in recent weeks. The intercept by the Russian Su-35 hindered the U.S. crew’s ability to safely operate their MC-12 aircraft, the officials stated. They referred to it as an alarming level of unsafe behavior that could potentially lead to an accident or loss of life.
While Russian fighter jets have previously harassed U.S. unmanned MQ-9 drones, this incident raises greater concerns due to the endangerment of American lives.
The officials, who requested anonymity to disclose details of the military operation, did not disclose the exact proximity of the Russian jet to the U.S. warplane. The MC-12, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft commonly used by special operations forces, was conducting surveillance in support of operations against the Islamic State groups in Syria.
Over the past two weeks, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly approached MQ-9 Reapers, prompting flares to be deployed and forcing the drones to take evasive actions. During these encounters, U.S. and Russian military officers communicate through a deconfliction phone line to register their objections to the opposing side’s actions. A senior defense official revealed that the U.S. is considering several military options to address the escalating Russian aggression in Syria’s skies, which recently complicated efforts to target an Islamic State group leader. The U.S. ultimately succeeded in conducting the strike and eliminating the militant.
The official, also speaking anonymously regarding military operations, declined to provide specific details on the options being considered but affirmed that the U.S. will not relinquish any territory and will continue flying missions against the Islamic State group in the western part of Syria.
The increased frequency and aggression of Russian military activity since March can be attributed to heightened cooperation and coordination between Moscow, Tehran, and the Syrian government. These efforts aim to exert pressure on the U.S. to withdraw from Syria.
Currently, there are approximately 900 U.S. forces in the country, with others rotating in and out to carry out missions targeting Islamic State group militants.
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