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BREAKING
Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow has lodged a protest with Israeli authorities over the attack on a vehicle belonging to the Representative office of the Russian Federation to Palestinian National Authority
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Brital, Baalbek
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone launched three missiles on the Baalbek-Rayak international road in eastern Lebanon
Salam: The army has been tasked with developing a plan for "state weapons monopoly" by the end of this year and presenting it to the ministerial council before the 31st of this month
Salam: Discussion of the US document paper will be pursued in a government session next Thursday
Salam: We affirm Lebanon's right to self-defense in the event of any aggression.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in a statement after the government session that discussed the "state weapons monopoly" clause: Based on the ministerial statement, the Lebanese state is committed to implementing international resolution 1701
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon is a country where sacrifices and blood have been made, and we will discuss any matter related to it in Lebanon; no one think of imposing any diktats on us
Sheikh Qassem: We must beware of the advocates of sedition whose hands are stained with blood and who serve the Israeli project
Sheikh Qassem: We are a fundamental component of Lebanon, so how the resistance is approached must be reconsidered

US Reaper crashes into Black Sea after 'incident' with Russian Su-27

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Mar 2023 19:57
3 Min Read

The US European Command claims its MQ-9 aircraft was intercepted and hit by Russian aircraft.

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  • US-made drone
    A US-made armed MQ-9 Reaper drone seen in Afghanistan (Reuters)

Western military sources told AFP Tuesday that there had been an "incident" involving a US-made Reaper drone flying over the Black Sea, an area of intense NATO military activity close to the Ukraine war frontlines.

"Something happened but we don't have confirmation that the drone has been shot down. An investigation is underway," one of two Western sources who confirmed "an incident" told AFP.

The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, did not say which country was operating the drone, which is used extensively by the United States as well as many of its NATO allies.

Russian Su-27 aircraft allegedly struck propeller of US MQ-9 drone

Later, the US European Command issued a statement saying that "a Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of a U.S. MQ-9 drone, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters."

The Command claimed that "several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner."

BREAKING: This morning, a Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of a U.S. MQ-9 drone, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters, according to @US_EUCOM.

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) March 14, 2023

"This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional," it added.

The US European Command insisted that this "follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea."

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"These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation," the statement concluded.

"Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," US Air Force General James Hecker also claimed.

Hecker said that "U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace," calling on the Russians "to conduct themselves professionally and safely."

"These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation."

'Unsafe and unprofessional' intercept: White House

On his part, White House Spokesperson John Kirby said US President Joe Biden was briefed on Tuesday about the incident.

Kirby indicated that while there have been other such intercepts, this one was noteworthy because it was "unsafe and unprofessional" and caused the downing of a US aircraft.

"So it's unique in that regard," he said.

"We don't need to have some sort of check-in with the Russians before we fly in international airspace. There's no requirement to do that, nor do we do it," Kirby said.

"The State Department will be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts, and expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept," he said.

In addition, a NATO official said that the alliance's top military commander has informed allies about the incident.

"General (Christopher) Cavoli has briefed NATO allies on the incident today," the official told Reuters.

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Russia & NATO

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As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

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