Russia and US air forces conduct safety protocols over Syrian skies
The U.S. and Russian air forces successfully conducted a safety protocol in the Syrian skies to avoid any kind of accidental clash while the two nations carry out separate missions over the disputed region. The planned 3-minutes test took place on Tuesday over south central Syria.
A U.S. fighter jet and a Russian fighter jet flew within 8 km of each other, according to a U.S. military official who wished to remain anonymous. The U.S. refused to consider it a joint military exercise unlike the Russians and called it a mere test.
"This test was a prudent measure solely to ensure that, in the event coalition aircraft encounter a Russian aircraft during operations in Syria, one of the established and agreed upon modes of communication in the agreement functioned," the Reuters quoted Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis as saying.
The military forces of both the nations agreed on a safety protocol last month despite United States’ strong disapproval of Russia’s airstrikes over Syria for over a month. The U.S. has also dismissed any possibility of supporting Moscow.
According to Andrei Kartapolov from the Russian army's General Staff, the tests were carried out in a special zone and the crews were communicating in English and Russian.
Although both nations claim that they are targeting the Islamic State in their respective airstrike campaigns in Syria, the U.S. has accused Russia of striking against all the oppositions groups against the Assad regime, many of which receive backing from the West.
The U.S. has repeatedly expressed concerns about the Russian jets coming too close to the American drones which could have caused accidental clashes.
Last week, the U.S. announced its decision to intensify its military activities in Syria and launch small operations on the ground for the first time. The U.S. airstrikes have reduced considerably in the past two months. But Pentagon has denied it has anything to with the Russian forces entering the scene.
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