Amid what it sees as an increase in unsafe behavior by the Russian military, the US military is concerned it might have to shoot down a Russian aircraft over Syria if the Russian plane is seen as a threat to US or coalition forces fighting ISIS.
"The greatest concern is that we could shoot down a Russian aircraft because its actions are seen as a threat to our air or ground forces," said Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, the spokesman for US Air Forces Central Command.
"As coalition
leaders have repeatedly said, we're here to fight ISIS -- not the Russians or anyone else," he added.
The concern comes as the US military has accused Russia and Syrian regime aircraft of violating policies that were agreed to by the United States and Russia to prevent such accidents.
Read more ....
Update #1: In Syria’s Skies, Close Calls With Russian Warplanes (New York Times)
Update #2: Russian MoD Reports Incident With US F-22 Fighter Over Syria's Euphates River (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: All that it will take is one small misunderstanding .... and then we may have an international crisis that will raise global tensions sky-high. A U.S. jet shooting down a Russian jet will guarantee that (and vice Versa).
The concern comes as the US military has accused Russia and Syrian regime aircraft of violating policies that were agreed to by the United States and Russia to prevent such accidents.
Read more ....
Update #1: In Syria’s Skies, Close Calls With Russian Warplanes (New York Times)
Update #2: Russian MoD Reports Incident With US F-22 Fighter Over Syria's Euphates River (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: All that it will take is one small misunderstanding .... and then we may have an international crisis that will raise global tensions sky-high. A U.S. jet shooting down a Russian jet will guarantee that (and vice Versa).
