The Russian Defense Ministry reported the detection by the Russian military of an unidentified aircraft that flew over the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea towards Russian facilities in Syria.
To identify the target in the air, as noted in the statement of the Ministry, a duty fighter was raised from the Hmeimim airbase.
The pilot identified the aircraft by its tail number as belonging to the US Navy and took it for escort. As a result, the American reconnaissance plane changed course from the Russian military facility, and the fighter returned to the airfield.
"All flights of the Russian air force take place in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters," the Russian Defense Ministry stressed, commenting on the incident.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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