National Security

Russian Fighter Jet Barely Misses Smashing Into US Plane Over Syria

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Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
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A Russian jet narrowly missed ramming into U.S. aircraft over Syria earlier this month in just one of many near-misses occurring in recent weeks.

The incident was hardly unique. Near-misses occur nearly every week, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeff Harrigian, the commander of air operations in Iraq and Syria, told NBC News Friday.

The near-miss occurred on the night of Oct. 17, when a Russian fighter, escorting a spy plane, came “inside of a half a mile” of a U.S. aircraft also flying nearby in Syrian airspace. The Russian flew so close to the U.S. plane that “you could feel the jet wash of the plane passing by,” said Harrigan, as reported by Fox News.

Crew members aboard the U.S. aircraft contacted the Russian aircraft during the incident. U.S. officials followed up with the Russian military the next day through a communication channel set up through a memorandum of understanding in October, 2015. The purpose of the channel is to help prevent incidents such as the one occurring Oct. 17.

U.S. officials are considering the event an accident, as they do not believe the Russian jet had any “nefarious” purpose for its dangerous fly-by, Air Force Col. John Dorrian told reporters in a briefing Friday.

Harrigian said the close encounter was not reported earlier because the U.S. wanted to “keep the temperature down” on the deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Russia.

Both U.S. and Russian forces are in the midst of air campaigns in Syria. The U.S. is currently striking Islamic State targets as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a U.S.-led coalition mission which aims to destroy the terrorist group.

Russia allegedly began its air campaign to strike terrorists in order to bolster its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, however, several countries and organizations have accused Russia of striking civilian targets indiscriminately.

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