Russian, US jets only two miles apart in close call over Syria

Russian fighter aircraft came within just one to two miles of coalition aircraft over Syria in a recent incident, with the pilots able to make visual contact.

The close call took place on Saturday over Aleppo, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense and was confirmed by a U.S. defense official on Wednesday.

{mosads}The U.S. military first revealed Saturday’s incident during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday.

Army Col. Steve Warren, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, said the Russian aircraft came within “visual recognition distance of a couple of coalition aircraft.”

“Visual identification took place. All pilots conducted themselves appropriately and everyone went about their business,” he said.

But, he added, “It’s dangerous if two sets of aircraft come into the same piece of airspace without very clear, laid-out protocols for safety of all involved.”

Warren said such encounters have happened “several times” but not daily, and more often involving coalition drones and Russian aircraft.

He said there’s only been one incident where coalition pilots had to change course and approach a bombing run from a different direction due to Russian aircraft operating nearby.

The encounters have occurred despite U.S. and Russian defense officials beginning talks on Oct. 1 to avoid any accidents or run-ins in the airspace over Syria.

U.S. and Russian defense officials are holding their third round of talks on Wednesday.

“The focus of these discussions is on specific safety protocols for aircrews flying over Syria. Those discussions are progressing, but nothing has been finalized,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said on Tuesday.

Russia began an air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30 to shore up Syrian President Bashar Assad, about a year after the U.S. begin airstrikes there against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The need for safety protocols has grown more urgent as the two sides continue to come into close contact in the air.