Intel: Russian jets intercept US Navy plane over eastern Mediterranean

Two Russian fighter aircraft intercepted a US Navy patrol plane over the eastern Mediterranean.
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter takes off at the Russian military base of Hmeimim, located south-east of the city of Latakia in Hmeimim, Latakia Governorate, Syria, on September 26, 2019. - With military backing from Russia, President Bashar al-Assad's forces have retaken large parts of Syria from rebels and jihadists since 2015, and now control around 60 percent of the country. Russia often refers to troops it deployed in Syria as military advisers even though its forces and warplanes are also directly invo
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter takes off from the Russian military base of Khmeimim southeast of the city of Latakia, Syria, Sept. 26, 2019. - MAXIME POPOV/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

Two Russian fighter aircraft intercepted a US Navy patrol plane over the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, the US 6th Fleet said.

The Navy released video of the interception, which it called “unsafe and unprofessional.” In it, two Russia Su-35 fighters can be seen close to the wings on both sides of a US Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft flying parallel to distant coastline. One of the Su-35s appears to be armed with an air-to-air missile.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more