Russia Says Warplane Eyeing U.S. Jet in Syria Not Meant to Scare

[Purveyor]

By Ilya Arkhipov Stepan Kravchenko
October 14, 2015 — 9:44 AM EDT Updated on October 14, 2015 — 1:39 PM EDT

Russia said its warplane flying bombing raids in Syria came close to a U.S jet in the area, highlighting the risks of its military campaign as the former Cold War foes remain at odds over how to coordinate their operations in the Middle Eastern country.

A Russian Su-30 fighter jet flew within about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to 3 kilometers of a U.S. warplane on Oct. 10 during a mission in Aleppo Province, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry in Moscow on Wednesday. The intention was to identify the plane and “not scare anyone,” with Russian and U.S. officials planning to discuss the incident, it said in the statement.

While Russia’s ready to talk about its campaign with “maps in hand,” the U.S. only wants to hold technical discussions to prevent clashes between the nations’ air forces conducting bombing operations over Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told lawmakers in Moscow on Wednesday. The Defense Ministry said it plans to discuss the close call between the warplanes by video link with the Pentagon.

Russia is sounding alarms about the lack of coordination with the U.S. while intensifying its air strikes in Syria. Russian jets conducted 41 sorties and hit 40 targets in the past 24 hours, destroying what it said were Islamic State training camps in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo as well as ammunition depots in Hama and Latakia, according to the Defense Ministry.

Ukraine, Syria

Russia’s relations with the U.S. and Europe -- already at their worst since the fall of the Berlin Wall over the separatist conflict in Ukraine -- have been strained further over President Vladimir Putin’s decision last month to begin airstrikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad against Islamic State and other militants. Putin accused some states on Tuesday of having “oatmeal in their heads” for failing to understand that Russia’s military campaign aims to defeat terrorism.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-14/russia-sees-growing-global-support-for-its-policies-lavrov-says

[randys1]

1. Putin is a dangerous, violent, corrupt asshole.

I worry that he could go too far.

But I simply cant IMAGINE dealing with him if the house, senate and WH were controlled by the idiots.

WWIII guaranteed, right!

Risk the SC by not voting Democratic party, how about risk all human life. All life, period.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. And Russia is a long-time ally of Syria. There with permission.

Unlike the US.

[Fred Sanders]

2. So.....the same thing the boys with toys have been doing since the 50's? Having some fun that could

result in world war when the fun goes too far?

[Blue_Tires]

4. It's just a matter of time before somebody "accidentally" shoots somebody down

and then the shit will really hit the fan