NEW VIDEO U.S. releases video of Russian jets harassing U.S. drones over Eastern Syria — dropped flares in front of drone, used afterburner. U.S. calls out Russia for this “unsafe and unprofessional behavior” pic.twitter.com/peaTjtumKo
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) July 5, 2023
The United States released footage of Russian fighter jets harassing a U.S. drone over Syria.
The incident occurred on Wednesday. A Russian Su-35 fighter jet engaged an MQ-9 Reaper drone in what the U.S. criticized as “unsafe and unprofessional behavior.” The jet flew directly in front of the drone and engaged its afterburners, which affected the drone operator’s ability to pilot the machine.
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One of the Su-35s dropped parachute flares in the direct path of the drone, forcing it to engage in evasive maneuvers.
“These events represent a new level of unprofessional and unsafe action by Russian air forces operating in Syria,” text in the video read. It also claimed that the activity threatened “the safety of U.S. and Russian forces.”
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U.S. and Russian forces both have a substantial military presence in Syria. U.S. forces are backing the local Kurds, and Russian forces are backing the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
The behavior of the Russian jets is similar to that of a Russian jet operating over the Black Sea in March, which resulted in the downing of a U.S. drone when the two aircraft collided.
