US drones violate closed airspace during Russian-Syrian exercises

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Jul 2023 09:16

The drones breached nine times airspace that was declared shutdown amid air exercises between the Russian and Syrian military.

Russian troops on parade at Hmeimim airbase in Latakia, with an Su-25 in the foreground, and a Mi-8 plus multiple Su-24s and Su-27s in the background (Russian Defense Ministry)

Drones belonging to the US-led international coalition violated nine times closed airspace during Russian-Syrian joint exercises, Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, the deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria said on Saturday.

"The Russian side ... draws attention to the continuing occurrence of the coalition’s UAVs in the airspace shut in connection with the joint Russian-Syrian exercises. In the past 24 hours, nine such cases of violation by coalition UAVs were recorded in the closed area. In addition, six non-deconfliction flights by two Typhoon, two Rafale, and two F-16 coalition aircraft were recorded," Gurinov said.

Joint Russian-Syrian air force and air defense exercises began in Syria on July 5 and will last six days. In the course of training, it is planned to work out the issues of joint actions of aviation, air defense, and electronic warfare forces in the repulsion of air strikes.

In addition to pilots, electronic warfare units participate in the exercises, to practice responding to supposed air attacks. It is noteworthy that the joint exercises in Syria will continue until mid-July.

Last week, Gurinov said that drones of the so-called US-led international counterterrorism coalition in Syria violated flight safety rules 315 times during the month of June.

He highlighted that there was no coordination between him and the so-called "international anti-terrorism coalition" led by the United States, and that the Russian side is not responsible for the safety of the uncoordinated flights of the drones.