U.S. F-35 Fighter Jets Flew Dangerously Close To Russian Su-35 Over Syria

ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.

Two F-35 stealth fighter jets of the United States-led coalition in Syria flew dangerously close to a Su-35 fighter jet of the Russian Aerospace Forces over Syria, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, said on August 15.

“Between 12:35 and 12:50 [Moscow time] on August 14, two F-35 fighter jets of the coalition dangerously approached two Su-35 planes of the Russian Aerospace forces at the altitude of about 9,100 meters, in the al-Tanf zone. The Russian aircraft were performing a scheduled flight along Syria’s southern border,” the commander said during his daily briefing.

Kulit added that “Russian pilots demonstrated a high degree of professionalism, promptly taking the necessary measures to avert a collision with the coalition’s aircraft.

Also during the briefing, the commander reported 20 new violations of Syria’s airspace over the southeastern area of al-Tanf by U.S.-led coalition fighter jets and drones. It’s worth noting that the coalition maintains a 55-kilometer no-fly zone around al-Tanf, where a garrison hosting some 200 U.S. troops is located.

In addition to these violations, coalition drones carried out nine flights over Syria without adhering to the deconfliction agreement with the Russian side, according to Kulit.

The commander noted that the coalition’s maneuvers create tensions in Syria’s airspace and may lead to air incidents and disasters.

The U.S.-led coalition recently expanded its aerial operations against Syria leading to tensions with the country’s government and the Russian military there.

Last week, a U.S. drone nearly hit a Russian Su-34 fighter bomber over Syria. In another incident, two coalition F-35s activated their targeting radars against two Russian Su-35 fighter jets, who turned on their defense systems in response.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• Russian Navy Attacked ISIS Hideouts In Syria With Cruise Missiles: Monitoring Group
• Shadowy Syrian Group Says It Targeted Three U.S. Bases With Rockets, Drones