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Russin jets 'intercept' US predator drones over Syria


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EXCLUSIVE: Russian jets 'intercept' US predator drones over Syria, officials say

By Lucas Tomlinson, Jennifer Griffin

Published October 07, 2015
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US officials tell Fox News Russian fighter jets closely approached U.S. predator drones over Syria at least three times in the past week.

Russian fighter jets shadowed U.S. predator drones on at least three separate occasions high above Syria since the start of Russia’s air campaign last week, according to two U.S. officials briefed on this latest intelligence from the region.

“The first time it happened, we thought the Russians got lucky. Then it happened two more times,” said one official.

Both officials said that the incidents took place over ISIS-controlled Syria, including its de facto headquarters in Raqqa, as well as along the Turkish-Syrian border near Korbani. Another occurred in the northwest, near the highly contested city of Aleppo.

The U.S. military's MQ-1 Predator drone is not a stealth aircraft.

"It is easy to see a predator on radar," said one official.

The Russians have not attempted to shoot down any of the U.S. drones, but instead have flown "intercept tracks," a doctrinal term meaning the Russians flew close enough to make their presence felt, according to one official.

One other official said, “the Russians flew very close, but did not impede the drone flight.”

“The first time it happened, we thought the Russians got lucky. Then it happened two more times."

- U.S. official briefed on intelligence

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook, traveling with the defense secretary in Europe leading up to a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels Thursday, said the Pentagon is open to more military-to-military talks with the Russians. No immediate date has been established to conduct the next round of talks, according to one defense official.

This development comes as Russia has moved some of its Mi-24 gunships and transport helicopters from an air base along the Mediterranean to another air base outside Homs, roughly 100 miles away. Russian ground forces, hundreds of Russian marines -- as well as four BM-30 Smerch rocket launchers capable of firing cluster munitions, mines as well as high explosive warheads -- are now in position to strike, but there is no evidence they have done so according to multiple defense officials. Infantry fighting vehicles and more a conventional artillery battery has also been seen by the intelligence community.

All these movements demonstrate the Russians are forming a "protective belt" around Latakia, the stronghold of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and are carrying out airstrikes against anti-Assad rebel forces, some backed by the CIA, to protect both regime and Russian interests, including a Russian naval base in Tartus established in the 70s.

The Pentagon maintains the vast majority of strikes from its forward operating base at Bassel al-Assad airport in Latakia including some 30 fighter/bomber jets have been against Syrian opposition forces and not ISIS, and one official pushed back on Russian defense ministry claims on the number of strikes the Russians have launched.

"The Russians carried out only one half or at best a quarter of the strikes they claim to have conducted," said a senior military official.

Over the past weekend, Turkey claims that Russia on two separate occasions violated its airspace. Despite Turkish pressure on NATO and top US government officials calling the action "unprofessional" and a "provocation" two senior US military officials downplayed the incident.

"The Russians flew along the border and we still don't know for sure what happened."

At least one of the alleged incidences occurred in Turkey's Hatay Province.

In 1939, land belonging to Syria and the Assad family in the northwest, along the Mediterranean bordering Latakia where the Russia has established an air base, was annexed by Turkey. Syria has never recognized the action and the two countries have been bitter enemies ever since.

Lucas Tomlinson is the Pentagon and State Department producer for Fox News Channel. You can follow him on Twitter: @LucasFoxNews

Jennifer Griffin currently serves as a national security correspondent for FOX News Channel . She joined FNC in October 1999 as a Jerusalem-based correspondent.

 

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I'm not so sure we're on the right side in this Syria war...

 

First, who really cares about Russian jets flying close by over Isis-controlled territories? We complained about them targeting the rebels (which may be Al-Qaeda linked anyway) now we're complaining about them targeting Isis.

 

Second, the FSA the US and others support has been linked to Al-Qaeda and supposedly several US-trained members have joined Isis.

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Not only has our air strikes been pitifully few against ISIS in Iraq I read about 75 percent of the sorties come back without even dropping any bombs. It is no wonder Iraq is looking to Russia and Iran now. Obama made a huge mistake in not leaving a residual force in Iraq and protecting the gains we had made under the surge. The war effort against ISIS under Obama has been pitiful (whatever happened to the 60 nation coalition the administration said they put together to fight ISIS?) and left a void that Russia will come in and fill. I don't care so much about Syria but we had a lot invested in Iraq with lost lives and billions of dollars we threw away.

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http://www.wnd.com/2015/10/bombshell-isis-just-hours-from-destruction/

https://www.rt.com/news/317831-saudi-clerics-jihad-syria-russia/

 

It seems like Russia is accomplishing more in a matter of days than we have in years. They're also sending 150k ground forces among using naval force.

 

Obama has approved the pentagon to give weapons and more funding to the rebels in Syria...It's hard to believe we're this incompetent and now we're complaining that Russia is getting the job done. What gives? Also these Saudi clerics would rather go after Iran,Russia,Assad before going after Isis?

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http://www.wnd.com/2015/10/bombshell-isis-just-hours-from-destruction/

https://www.rt.com/news/317831-saudi-clerics-jihad-syria-russia/

 

It seems like Russia is accomplishing more in a matter of days than we have in years. They're also sending 150k ground forces among using naval force.

 

Obama has approved the pentagon to give weapons and more funding to the rebels in Syria...It's hard to believe we're this incompetent and now we're complaining that Russia is getting the job done. What gives? Also these Saudi clerics would rather go after Iran,Russia,Assad before going after Isis?

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that this wsa what the Iran deal was all about. We conceded all this stuff to them so that they agree to go wipe out Isis with Russia's help. Iran will provide the ground forces and Russia will provide air. Remember the Russians have some skin in this Isis game cause a lot of Isis are Chechen muslims who Putin "loathes". The chechens were putting up beheading videos on the internet before Youtube was even a thing.

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I have a sneaky suspicion that this wsa what the Iran deal was all about. We conceded all this stuff to them so that they agree to go wipe out Isis with Russia's help. Iran will provide the ground forces and Russia will provide air. Remember the Russians have some skin in this Isis game cause a lot of Isis are Chechen muslims who Putin "loathes". The chechens were putting up beheading videos on the internet before Youtube was even a thing.

China's about to get in too, as well as Russian ground forces

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What gives? Also these Saudi clerics would rather go after Iran,Russia,Assad before going after Isis?

 

___________________________________________________________

 

Wonder if it is due to ISIS being Sunni Muslims the same as the Saudi's and Assad and Iran are represented by the Shiiite Muslims? I think Saudi Arabia is concerned about Iran taking over in the region.

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What gives? Also these Saudi clerics would rather go after Iran,Russia,Assad before going after Isis?

 

___________________________________________________________

 

Wonder if it is due to ISIS being Sunni Muslims the same as the Saudi's and Assad and Iran are represented by the Shiiite Muslims? I think Saudi Arabia is concerned about Iran taking over in the region.

The Saudis very likely agree with much of the ISIS rhetoric.

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Sure, I remember something about that - more like

the N. American continent or something.

 

But the middle east...not sure how that applies, especially now,

unless you are hinting that the soviets, china and the U.S. all

lay claim to influence over the region ...

with our U.S. being the major friend to Israel...

 

The Munroe doctrine...that was a long, long time ago.

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Not really. I get a sense of the beginning of Russia getting sucked into a quagmire. They can step on that pile for us this time.

Except we're not letting them. In response to Russia, the pentagon is sending even more supplies and aid to the rebels, who Obama calls "moderates", though the "moderates" are still known to persecute Shiites, Christians, and enforce Sharia law.

 

Basically we're in a proxy war with Russia, and it seems like China's getting behind Russia+Assad as well pretty soon.

 

It could be bad news bears.

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