Alwaght- Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman, said on Saturday that American warplanes in Syria had tried in late November to disrupt a Russian air operation against the positions of ISIS in eastern Syria.
"An American F-22 fighter actively prevented the Russian pair of Su-25 attack aircraft from carrying out a combat mission to destroy the ISIS stronghold in the suburbs of the city of Mayadin in the airspace over the western bank of the Euphrates River on November 23,” said Konashenkov.
The official added that the American fighter jet had attempted to escalate the situation and engage in a battle with the Russian jets.
“The F-22 aircraft fired off heat flares and released brake shields with permanent maneuvering, imitating an air battle,” Konashenkov said, adding that the US plane then stopped dangerous maneuvers and fled to the Iraqi territory after a Russian Su-35S fighter appeared in the scene.
He said similar incidents had occurred in the final weeks of a multi-throng battle against ISIS in eastern Syria, adding that those incidents showed Washington was trying to hinder a full defeat of the terrorist group in the territory.
Russian Defense Ministry has commented on the US claims regarding Syria's airspace, explaining that the majority of near-misses between US and Russian planes in Syria and in the area of the Euphrates were connected with the Washington's attempts to hinder ISIS's defeat.
"The statements of the US Army representatives that a part of the Syrian airspace belongs to the US is puzzling," Konashenkov stated, reminding the Pentagon that "Syria is a sovereign state and a member of the United Nations, therefore, the United States does not own any part of sky."
