MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A MQ-9 Reaper drone of the US-led international coalition flew dangerously close to a Russian Su-35 aircraft in Syria, Yurii Popov, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Saturday.
“On June 29, from 11:00-11:05 [08:00-08:05 GMT], coalition’s MQ-9 Reaper drone once again flew dangerously close to a Su-35 aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces, which was making a scheduled flight in Syrian airspace, over the Al-Sukhnah town in the Homs province, at altitudes from 7,500-8,500 meters [24,606-27,887 feet]. The Russian pilot demonstrated high professionalism and took the necessary measures in a timely manner to prevent a collision,” Popov told a briefing.
The US-led coalition fighters breached deconfliction protocols and violated the Syrian airspace 10 times over the past 24 hours in the Al-Tanf area by a pair of F-15 fighter jets, a pair of Rafale and Typhoon fighter jets, as well as two pairs of А-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft, the Russian official added.
In a recent incident in Syria, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone had a close encounter with a Russian Su-35 aircraft, raising tensions in the region. The Russian pilot showed professionalism to avoid a collision. This incident adds to the existing provocations between the US-led coalition and Russia in Syrian airspace. Meanwhile, the US-led coalition has been reported to violate Syrian airspace multiple times, further escalating the situation.
This encounter highlights the ongoing power struggles and conflicts between major military powers in the region and raises concerns about potential escalation. The need for adherence to protocols and deconfliction measures is crucial to prevent such incidents in the future. Stay updated with Sputnik International for more on this developing story.\
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