- Russian fighter jets flew over US military outposts in Syria 25 times in March. Per NBC News.
- The US and Russia have a 2019 deal meant to keep each other away from Syrian air bases.
- The escalation comes a week after Russian fighter jets collided with US drones in the Black Sea.
Russian fighter jets surrounded US air bases in Syria dozens of times in March, and tensions could rise after a US drone was shot down after clashing with Russian fighter jets in the Black Sea last week.
As reported by NBC News, Russian aircraft have zoomed in on US airbases in Syria more than 25 times this month, violating a 2019 agreement between the US and Russia on using Syrian airspace in areas where countries have military outposts.
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grinkewicz, commander of the Allied Air Forces for U.S. Central Command, told the outlet that flights increased during March.
On March 14, two Russian Su-27 fighter jets closed in, poured fuel, and captured a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea, forcing the US to shoot down the damaged drone. rice field.
In Syria, Glinkewicz said Russian jets were swarming US outposts at the Tanf garrison, creating an “uncomfortable situation.”
“They regularly fly directly over our forces, within about a mile of what I define as overhead, within a mile of offset to one side or the other, and have forces on the ground. ’” Glinkewicz told NBC News. “So it’s an uncomfortable situation.”
According to NBC News, Russian forces circumnavigated US Air Force bases 14 times in January and never flew over them in February.
“It just increases the risk of miscalculation. Considering things like the MQ-9 incident in the Black Seathat’s not the kind of behavior I would expect from a professional Air Force,” Glinkewicz added.
The Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency did not immediately respond to an insider’s request for comment.
Russian and U.S. forces both have military presence in Syria Since at least 2015. The U.S. has opened a dispute resolution phone line with Russia to ease tensions, and in calls with the U.S. said Russian military officials were unaware of U.S. bases and airspace, according to NBC News. says.
“Russia appeared to be abandoning its protocol tenets in recent months,” Glinkewicz added.