U.S. resumes drone flights over Black Sea after Russia intercept

A Russian Su-27 army plane dumps gasoline whereas flying by a U.S. Air Drive MQ-9 “Reaper” drone over the Black Sea, March 14, 2023 on this nonetheless picture taken from handout video launched by the Pentagon. (Courtesy of U.S. European Command/The Pentagon/Handout by way of REUTERS)

WASHINGTON  – The US has resumed surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea area following a Russian fighter jet intercept on Tuesday that led to the downing of a U.S surveillance drone, two U.S. officers stated on Friday.

An RQ-4 International Hawk flew a mission to the area on Friday, the officers stated, with one including that it was the primary such drone flight because the Tuesday incident. Pentagon officers have repeatedly confused this week the incident wouldn’t cease Washington from flying such missions.

Nonetheless, the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 drone on Tuesday was the primary direct U.S.-Russian incident because the Ukraine battle started, worsening already tense relations between Washington and Moscow as each international locations publicly traded blame.

Russia has denied U.S. accusations that its two Su-24 fighter jets acted recklessly across the unmanned U.S. plane, and as a substitute has blamed “sharp maneuvering” by the drone for the crash.

Nevertheless, the Pentagon launched a video on Thursday exhibiting a Russian Su-27 fighter jet coming very near the drone and dumping gasoline close to it, in what U.S. officers stated was an obvious effort to wreck the American plane because it flew.

It additionally confirmed the lack of the video feed after one other shut Russian maneuver, which the Pentagon stated resulted from a Russian jet colliding with the drone.

The video ends with pictures of the drone’s broken propeller, which the Pentagon stated was attributable to the collision, making the plane inoperable and main it to crash into deep waters.

The incident over worldwide waters was a reminder of the danger of direct confrontation between the USA and Russia over Ukraine, which Moscow invaded greater than a 12 months in the past and which Western allies have supported with intelligence and weapons.

gsg

Learn Subsequent

Do not miss out on the most recent information and knowledge.

For suggestions, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.