After the Black Sea crisis, dangerous tensions between the US and Russia, now in Syria
While the dangerous tension between the US and Russia over the Black Sea remained on the agenda last week, it was revealed that the tension between the two countries in Syria has increased recently.
The US European Forces Command announced last week that two Russian Su-27 jets harassed the US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle in the Black Sea, and the MQ-9 crashed in deep waters. international after one of the planes crashed. Describing the incident as “very dangerous and unprofessional”, the US summoned the Russian ambassador in Washington to the Foreign Ministry.
The Russian Defense Ministry, on the other hand, denied that the fighter jet hit the US drone in the incident, arguing that the drone crashed as a result of a “sudden maneuver”. The crisis has been described as the most dangerous tension between Russia and the United States since the start of the Ukraine war.
The American press reported that there has been tension between the two countries in Syria recently. According to NBC News, armed Russian warplanes flew over the US base in Syria almost daily in March.
‘CONTRACTING MILITARY AGREEMENTS’
Speaking to NBC, US commander Alexus Grynkewich said that since the beginning of March, Russian planes have violated the airspace of the Al Tanif base, which is considered the main US headquarters in Syria, at least 25 times. . Grynkewich, who is responsible for US air operations in Syria, also pointed out that the flights of Russian planes violate the agreement between the US and Russia, which has been in force for 4 years.
The US commander said that Russia did not commit any violations in January and February, and regarding the recent increase in flights, “I have never seen such violations of military agreements in my career. This is very worrying,” he said.
‘INCREASE THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS’
Calling Russia’s stance a “provocation”, Grynkewich said they did not expect Russian planes to attack the US base, but this situation increased the risk of an accident between the two countries, noting that tension in the Black Sea could also They happen in Syria.
According to the NBC report, the US military protested the Russian flights through media channels, arguing that this situation harmed the fight against ISIS, but failed to stop the flights. Russia was claimed to have responded that the area where the Al Tanif base is located is not recognized as airspace by the United States.
The United States, in cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces, whose backbone consists of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, carries out its anti-ISIS operations from the Al Tanif base. The US and Russia implemented several rules to prevent potential conflicts and military accidents in Syria in 2019, and they continue to communicate.