Russian fighter jet damages US drone over Syria

The information was reported by The Guardian.

A senior air force commander said the move on Sunday was an attempt by the Russians to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky.

Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air forces Central, described it as a close call. In a statement, he said:

“One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” he said.

“We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior,” he added.

One of the crew members operating the drone remotely kept it in the air and flew it back to its home base.

The incident came just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region, jeopardizing the lives of the four American crew members.

• On March 14, in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The drone was shot down as a result of the incident. After the incident, the United States began negotiations with Russia at the "highest level" and summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington.

• On March 15, the White House said that the drone incident would not prevent the United States from flying over the Black Sea.

• The Kremlin was aware of the attack on the American military drone, as the aggressive actions of Russian fighters had been approved in advance by the leadership. 

• Later, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that the Russian pilot's pursuit of the American drone was a deliberate and aggressive act.

• On July 6, it was reported that Russian aircraft performed dangerous maneuvers in Syria and interfered with US drones fighting the ISIS terrorist organization.

• On July 18, it was reported that a Russian Su-35 tried to intercept an American MC-12 aircraft in Syria, endangering the lives of 4 crew members.