Mattis warns of unsafe Russia flights in Syria amid Moscow's rejection
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has warned against Russian jet fighters flying “dangerously” over what he views as “a safe zone” in Syria, a country that has repeatedly censured violation of its ground and air space by American military forces.
Mattis made the remarks during a Pentagon press briefing on Friday, underlining that US and Russian are still using a phone line to coordinate military flights over the crowded Syrian skies as Washington claims that the US-led coalition war planes continue to hunt remaining militants linked to the defeated Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, AP reported Saturday.
Claiming that two Russian Su-25 fighter jets flew through an unofficial line separating Russian and US air forces in eastern Syria on Wednesday and came dangerously close to American war planes, Mattis further questioned whether the close calls were made in error or deliberately.
According to the top US military official, American F-22 jet fighters launched warning flares in response to the Russian flights.
Mattis also stated that although he does not expect perfection in flights, he does not want dangerous maneuvers either.
The development came after Russia on Thursday dismissed reports that US war planes intercepted Russian aircraft over Syrian airspace.
Pentagon originally claimed on Thursday that the Russian jets were flying over a “banned area in Syria,” adding that two of its F-22 Raptor aircraft were scrambled to chase two Russian Sukhoi Su-25 Grach bombers out of a coalition-controlled area on the east side of the Euphrates River.
Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon told Russia's state news agency Tass that the Raptors deployed chaff and flares to warn the Russian pilots while one of the US airmen had to "aggressively maneuver" to avoid a midair collision.
However, Russia's Defense Ministry later rejected claims of the Russian jets being “intercepted,” insisting that it was its aircraft that chased off the US warplanes violating the Syrian airspace.
The ministry also dismissed reports that the Russian military aircraft were operating over the eastern bank, saying they were escorting a humanitarian aid convoy.
A Su-35 fighter jet, which provided cover for the Russian planes carrying humanitarian aid, “rapidly approached” the F-22 from the rear and the US warplane left the area afterward, the ministry added.
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