🇷🇺❌🇺🇸 — US Air Force Central Command: Russian unprofessional behavior over Syria - 5 July 2023
— "Earlier today (July 5, 2023) at approximately 10:40 A.M., Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior while interacting with U.S. aircraft in Syria.

While three U.S. MQ-9 drones were conducting a mission against ISIS targets, three Russian fighter jets began harassing the drones. Against established norms and protocols, the Russian jets dropped multiple parachute flares in front of the drones, forcing our aircraft to conduct evasive maneuvers.

Additionally, one Russian pilot positioned their aircraft in front of an MQ-9 and engaged afterburner, thereby reducing the operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft. These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both U.S. and Russian forces.

We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS.”

https://archive.is/bsHSD
🔗 US AFCENT (@USAFCENT)

🇷🇺❌🇺🇸 — US Air Force Central Command: Russian unprofessional behavior over Syria - 6 July 2023
— "Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior Thursday, 9:30 A.M. local time, while interacting with U.S. MQ-9 drones carrying out our D-ISIS mission in Syria. Russian aircraft dropped flares in front of the drones and flew dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved.

This is the second instance of dangerous behaviors by Russian pilots within the past 24 hours, with the first happening Wednesday at approximately 10:40 A.M. local time. In that instance, Russian jets launched parachute flares at the drones and traveled dangerously close to the drones, forcing U.S. pilots to perform evasive maneuvers.

These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both Coalition and Russian forces.

We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS."

https://archive.is/mT2qf
🔗 US AFCENT (@USAFCENT)

🇷🇺❌🇫🇷❗️ — 🇫🇷🪖 General Staff of French Armed Forces on Twitter:

— "On 06/07, 2 Dassault Rafale fighters of French Air Force 🇫🇷 on a protection mission on the Iraqi-Syrian border reacted to a non-professional interaction on the part of an SU-35 of Russian Federation 🇷🇺

The French pilots 🇫🇷 maneuvered in order to control the risk of accident before continuing their patrol."

🔗 Armée française - Opérations militaires (@EtatMajorFR)