Russian jets are reportedly flying over a US military base in Syria

Mar 23, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer/Editor)

Armed Russian jets have been flying over a U.S. military base in Syria almost every day of March 2023, according Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich who spoke to NBC News. The general said that Russian jets are flying directly overhead of military equipment and U.S. forces on the ground, and the planes are coming within just a mile of the base.

The U.S. and Russia agreed to air regulations in 2019 to avoid encounters in Syria. The recent flyovers by Russia could be considered a breach of that agreement.

The jets were spotted 25 times in March and about a dozen other times in January 2023. This latest development comes one week after a Russian jet collided with a U.S. drone over the Black Sea.

The U.S. European command said Russian pilots are displaying a “pattern of dangerous actions” while interacting with U.S. aircraft.

Tags: Black Sea, Russia, Syria, U.S. military, United States

KARAH RUCKER: ARMED RUSSIAN JETS HAVE BEEN FLYING OVER A U.S. MILITARY BASE ALMOST EVERY DAY THIS MONTH ACCORDING TO A TOP GENERAL WHO SPOKE TO NBC NEWS.

THE RUSSIAN JETS ARE SAID TO BE FLYING DIRECTLY OVERHEAD OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND U.S. FORCES ON THE GROUND. THE PLANES COMING WITHIN JUST A MILE ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL.

THE U.S. AND RUSSIA AGREED TO AIR REGULATIONS IN 2019 TO AVOID ENCOUNTERS IN SYRIA. THE RECENT FLY-OVERS BY RUSSIA COULD BE CONSIDERED A BREACH OF THAT AGREEMENT.

THE JETS WERE SPOTTED 25 TIMES IN MARCH AND ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER TIMES IN JANUARY. THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT COMES ONE WEEK AFTER A RUSSIAN JET COLLIDED WITH A U.S. DRONE OVER THE BLACK SEA.

THE U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND SAID RUSSIAN PILOTS ARE DISPLAYING A “PATTERN OF DANGEROUS ACTIONS WHILE INTERACTING WITH U.S. AIRCRAFT.”