U.S. Accuses Russia of Harassing Military Drones in Syria

The United States has accused Russia of harassing its military drones in Syria. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the commander of the Ninth Air Force and the Combined Forces Air Component for U.S. Central Command, said that three U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones were conducting a mission against Islamic State targets in Syria when three Russian fighter jets began harassing them.

Grynkewich said the jets broke “established norms and protocols” by dropping “multiple parachute flares in front of the drones,” subsequently forcing them to “conduct evasive maneuvers.” He added that the Russian military aircraft engaged in “unsafe and unprofessional behavior while interacting with U.S. aircraft in Syria.”

The incident occurred at around 10:40 a.m. local time and was the latest in a series of similar incidents in the region. In June, a Russian fighter jet flew within five feet of a U.S. reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea. In April, a Russian fighter jet flew within 25 feet of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane over the Mediterranean Sea.

The U.S. has long accused Russia of attempting to disrupt its operations in Syria. In 2017, the U.S. accused Russia of jamming its drones in Syria, and in 2018, the U.S. accused Russia of using electronic warfare to disrupt its drones.

The U.S. has called on Russia to adhere to international norms and protocols in its interactions with U.S. aircraft. It is unclear how the U.S. will respond to the latest incident, but it is likely that the U.S. will continue to call on Russia to respect international norms and protocols.