Three American drones were harassed by Russian airplanes above Syria on Wednesday while participating in a mission against militants, according to a US officer.
“While three US MQ-9 drones were conducting a mission against ISIS targets, three Russian fighter jets began harassing the drones,” Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich said in a statement, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.
The Russian jets dropped parachute flares in front of the US drones, forcing them to take evasive action, while one pilot turned on their plane’s afterburner in front of an MQ-9, “reducing the operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft,” he said.
“These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both US and Russian forces,” Grynkewich said, calling on Moscow to “cease this reckless behavior.”
The US claimed earlier this year that a Russian plane struck the propeller of a drone flying over the Black Sea, causing it to crash. Moscow denied responsibility.
