South Front
Click to see full-size image. By the French military.
A Russian SU-35 fighter jet conducted a “non-professional interaction” with two French Rafale fighter jets that were flying a mission along the Syrian-Iraqi border on July 6, according to the French military.
The two Rafales maneuvered in order to avoid the risk of accident, the French military said on Twitter, without providing any additional information.
The French military operations in Syria as a part of an anti-ISIS coalition led by the United States, without an authorization from Damascus.
Between July 5 and 7, the U.S. reported several incidents in which Russian fighter jets harassed its drones over the northern region of the war-torn country. In response to these accusations, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria said that the drones were activating their weapons systems and flying over an area where joint Russian-Syrian aerial drills are taking place.
The first stage of the joint Russian-Syrian drills began on July 5. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the drills will continue until mid-July.
While the U.S.-led coalition claims that its aerial operations over Syria are directed against ISIS, its fighter jets and drones may be collecting intelligence on the Russian military group in the country and government forces.
A direct military confrontation between coalition and Russian forces in Syria remains highly unlikely. However, the coalition’s refusal to coordinate its operations over the country with the Russian side could eventually lead to a serious incident.
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