Russia blames U.S. for near-collision of planes over Syria

By

The Associated Press

An E-3 Sentry descends after refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq Sept. 29, 2016. Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refueled the E-3 Sentry over Iraq in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. The U.S. and more than 60 coalition partners work together to eliminate Daesh and the threat they pose to Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr., Released)

MOSCOW — A Russian military spokesman is blaming the United States for a near-collision of the countries’ warplanes in Syrian airspace.

Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement Saturday that the Oct. 17 incident involved a Sukhoi-35, Russia’s most advanced fighter jet, and an American E-3 radar plane near the city of Deir al-Zour. Konashenkov said Russia had informed the U.S. military of the Su-35’s intent to fly in the area.

But , Konashenkov says the American plane unexpectedly descended by about one kilometer (0.6 miles) and came within 500 meters (0.3 miles) of the Russian plane

The incident was first reported on Friday by a U.S. military spokesman, who said it had been raised with Russian commanders but deliberately not made public.

Konashenkov said the Americans apologized for the incident.

About 

The Associated Press