The US Army Central Command released a video of maneuvers by three Russian Su-35 fighters while intercepting American MQ-9 Reaper drones. The incident took place on July 5 in northeastern Syria.
The fighter jets fired parachute flares in front of the drones, forcing them into evasive maneuvers. The American command called the actions of Russian pilots "unprofessional and unsafe."
According to CNN, the MQ-9 Reaper drones were on a mission to track targets linked to the Islamic State in Syria.
On March 14, an American MQ-9 Reaper crashed into the Black Sea after colliding with Russian Su-27 fighter jets. The Pentagon blamed the incident on Russian pilots, who performed dangerous maneuvers around the drone. According to the Americans, one of the planes deliberately touched the propeller of the drone. The Russian Defense Ministry denied the allegations, saying that the MQ-9 Reaper lost control for unknown reasons.
After the incident, the US suspended its drone flights over the Black Sea for several days.