By LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. drone strike killed an Islamic State group chief in Syria hours after the identical MQ-9 Reaper drones had been harassed by Russian navy jets over the western a part of the nation, in line with the Defense Department.
Three Reapers had been flying overhead trying to find the militant on Friday, a U.S. protection official stated, after they had been harassed for about two hours by Russian plane. Shortly after that, the drones struck and killed Usamah al-Muhajir, who was driving a motorbike within the Aleppo area, stated the official, who was not licensed to publicly focus on the matter and spoke on situation of anonymity to explain particulars of the navy operation.
The official stated al-Muhajir was in northwest Syria on the time of the strike, however that he often operated within the east.
It was not instantly clear how the U.S. navy confirmed that the individual killed was al-Muhajir; no different particulars had been supplied.
In an announcement Sunday, U.S. Central Command stated there are not any indications any civilians had been killed within the strike. The navy was assessing studies a civilian could have been injured.
Friday was the third day in a row that U.S. officers complained that Russian fighter jets within the area had carried out unsafe and harassing flights round American drones.
Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, stated in an announcement that in the course of the Friday encounter, the Russian planes “flew 18 unprofessional close passes that caused the MQ-9s to react to avoid unsafe situations.”
The first friction occurred Wednesday morning when Russian navy plane “engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior” as three American MQ-9 drones had been conducting a mission towards IS, the U.S. navy stated. On Thursday, the U.S. navy stated Russian fighter plane flew “incredibly unsafe and unprofessionally” towards each French and U.S. plane over Syria.
Col. Michael Andrews, Air Forces Central Command spokesman, stated the Thursday incident lasted virtually an hour and included shut fly-bys, by one SU-34 and one SU-35 and that they deployed flares straight into the MQ-9.
U.S. officers stated the drones had been unarmed within the earlier flights, however had been carrying weapons on Friday, as they had been looking al-Muhajir.
“We have made it clear that we remain committed to the defeat of ISIS throughout the region,” stated Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, within the assertion.
Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, stated this previous week that the Russian and Syrian militaries had began a six-day joint coaching that ends Monday.
Gurinov added in feedback carried by Syrian state media that Moscow was involved in regards to the flights of drones by the U.S.-led coalition over northern Syria, calling them “systematic violations of protocols” designed to keep away from clashes between the 2 militaries.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”