Adding to constant tensions between the US and Russia, Russian officials reported that a US B-52 bomber made a surprise approach toward their Hmeimim Airbase, in western Syria.
The bomber showed up off the coast of Greece, and made a run toward
Syrian airspace, before cutting away and going into Jordan instead. US
officials are not saying what they actually were doing there.
Russians are speculating this was related to Russia’s deactivation of an
S-400 defense system near Hmeimim, which would leave the site more
vulnerable. They believe the US was trying to “scare” Russia.
Such a circumstance would probably never be confirmed by the US, and
while the US likes to keep a lot of warplanes active in and around
Syria, they rarely will comment on what they intend, beyond proving they
can fly where they want.
US B-52 Bomber Unexpectedly Approached Russian Base in Syria
Bomber flew close to border of Syrian airspace
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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