Two US MQ-9s made a close approach to a Russian Su-24 striker
Two MQ-9 Reaper drones recently came dangerously close to a Russian Su-24M strike fighter in the skies over Syria, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry’s Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria.
💬 “On July 27, two coalition MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and combat drones perilously approached Su-24 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces during a scheduled flight over Syria. This encounter happened at an altitude of about 6,500 meters near the settlement of Al Sukhnah in the Homs Governorate,” the Center explained.
In addition, two pairs of U.S. Air Force F-15 fighters and A-10 attack jets reportedly violated Syrian airspace in the Al Tanf area eight times on the same day. Reaper drones have repeatedly flown close to Russian fighters over Syrian airspace, with one such episode involving a Russian Su-35 fighter occurring in the second week of July. An MQ-9 was reported to have closely approached a Su-35 on June 27, 15 days ago—a day marked by 12 sustained violations of Syrian airspace by Western combat aircraft.