MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - The U.S.-led coalition continues to create dangerous situations in the Syrian airspace by flying in violation of deconfliction protocols and trespassing the Syrian airspace, deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov said at a press briefing.
"Another dangerous approach of the coalition's MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle towards the Russian Aerospace Forces' Sukhoi Su-34 aircraft to a vertical distance of less than 100 meters was reported from an altitude of 5,000 meters at 6:53 a.m. on July 30. Please note it was another non-deconflicted flight of the coalition's unmanned aerial vehicle in that sector. High professional skills of Russian pilots and their timely actions prevented a collision with the coalition's unmanned aerial vehicle from happening," Gurinov said.
The U.S.-led coalition committed 12 violations of the deconfliction protocols dated December 9, 2019, within 24 hours by performing drone flights without coordination with Russia, he said.
"At-Tanf, an area hosting international airways, saw 13 violations of the Syrian airspace by four duos of F-16 fighter jets, two duos of F-35 fighter jets and one MQ-1C multir0le unmanned aerial vehicle of the coalition," Gurinov said.