US Air Forces Central has released footage it says shows Russian fighter jets flying dangerously close to several US drone aircraft over Syria on Wednesday, 5 July, setting off flares and forcing the MQ-9 Reapers to make evasive maneuvers.
Video shows a Russian SU-35 fighter closing in on a Reaper, and later a number of the so-called parachute flares moving into the drone’s flight path.
The US drones were operating over Syria on a mission against the Islamic State group when three of the Russian aircraft “began harassing the drones,” Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich, commander of 9th Air Force in the Middle East, said.