Russian fighter jets harassed US military drones conducting an operation against Islamic State targets in Syria, authorities said Wednesday. It is at least the second incident of its kind this year.
Three Russian fighter jets engaged three MQ-9 Reaper drones at approximately 10:40 a.m. local time, according to a statement from the commander of the US Central Command's Ninth Air Force, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich.
Video Shows Russian Fighter Jets 'Harassing' US Air Force Drones
According to Grynkewich, the aircraft violated "established norms and protocols" by dumping "multiple parachute flares in front of the drones," thereby compelling the drones to "perform evasive maneuvers."
Per CBS News, Grynkewich stated that one of the Russian pilots positioned their flight in front of a drone and "engaged afterburner," impeding the drone operator's ability to operate the aircraft securely.
The Air Force released a drone video documenting the encounter. This is at least the second occasion this year that US drones and Russian fighter aircraft have come into conflict.
In March, the Pentagon released a video depicting a Russian fighter aircraft colliding with a US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone in international airspace, resulting in the drone crashing into the Black Sea.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated then, "The United States will continue to fly and operate wherever international law allows, and it is Russia's responsibility to operate its military aircraft safely and professionally."
US Air Force General Urges to Halt Russia's 'Reckless Behavior'
In a statement, the US Air Force general in the Middle East described the incident as "unsafe and unprofessional behavior" and urged Russia to halt what he termed "reckless behavior" by pilots flying over eastern Syria, where the US still has 900 personnel assisting in anti-terrorism efforts.
The incident on Wednesday is the latest in a spate of dozens of provocative Russian flights over eastern Syria, which prompted the United States to dispatch F-22 Raptors to deter flights above American military bases in the region.
Per ABC News, multiple cameras and sensors aboard the three MQ-9 Reaper drones captured in evocative detail how Russian Su-35 aircraft dropped parachuted flares in the path of the drones and how one of the jets used its afterburners in front of one of the drones on Wednesday.
The rapid declassification of the video documenting the encounter brought to mind the March publication of a similar video depicting a Russian pilot's similar harassment of an MQ-9 flying in international airspace above the Black Sea, which resulted in a collision, officials said at the time.
In mid-June, CENTCOM announced that it would deploy F-22 Raptors to the Middle East to prevent Russian aircraft from flying over American bases in eastern Syria.
According to defense officials, there have been dozens of incidents in recent months in which Russian aircraft have flown over American bases without using a safety line that has been in place for years to prevent miscalculations.
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