Russia tries to provoke US by flying over military bases in Syria

Sky News reported this week that Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said Russian fighter jets flew over US bases in Syria almost every day in March, violating deconfliction agreements between the two countries.

He added that this is an uncomfortable situation, warning that Russia's actions increase the risk of miscalculation.

And Ruslan Trad, a security researcher at the Atlantic Council, told The New Arab that the development was at least partially fueled by the Kremlin's recent talks with Beijing.

“This is cleverly provoking the US. Such accidents are affecting any positive outcome, if any, in the Syrian context," he said. He added that he believed Russia was trying to "provoke a reaction" from Washington, emboldened by recent meetings with China.

• The US launched airstrikes on the positions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in eastern Syria in response to their deadly attack on US positions using UAVs.