U.S.-Led Coalition Fighter Jets And Drones Violated Syria’s Airspace 14 Times: Russian MoD

An U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility July 25, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Sommers

United States-led coalition’s fighter jets and drones violated Syria’s airspace in the area of al-Tanf 14 times during the past day, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria [a division of the Russian Ministry of Defense], announced on August 2.

“The number of violations of Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, is growing. Thus, during the day, 14 such violations by one pair of the coalition’s F-16 and five pairs of F-35 fighter jets, as well as by two MQ-1C multi-role unmanned aerial vehicles were reported,” said the commander during his daily briefing.

Some 200 U.S. troops are reportedly deployed at a garrison of the coalition in al-Tanf. The coalition maintains a 55-kilometer no-fly zone around the garrison.

According to Kulit, the coalition’s warplanes continue creating dangerous situations in the sky over Syria, violating deconfliction protocols.

“Thirteen violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the coalition drones were reported in Syria in the past 24 hours,” he said.

The U.S.-led coalition operates in Syria without the approval of the government or any real coordination with the Russian military group there. In recent weeks, the coalition expanded its operations over the country leading to unprecedented tensions with Russia.

Last month, the U.S. deployed F-35s in the Middle East last month, allegedly to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Now however, these stealth fighter jets are apparently operating over Syria.

Answering a question about recent provocations by the coalition in Syria during a press conference last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country is ready for any scenario but does not want a direct military clash with the U.S.

The U.S. also does not appear to be interested in a confrontation with the Russian military in Syria. However, its repeated violations could eventually lead to an incident.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• In Video: Syrian, Russian Forces Conduct Nighttime Military Exercise
• Russian Army Warns Of Terrorist Plot To Attack Its Facilities, Patrols In Syria