Russian Jets Harass US, French Aircraft over Syria

French Rafale plane. Photo: French military
French Rafale plane. Photo: French military
TT

Russian Jets Harass US, French Aircraft over Syria

French Rafale plane. Photo: French military
French Rafale plane. Photo: French military

Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to several US drone aircraft over Syria again Thursday, setting off flares and forcing the MQ-9 Reapers to take evasive maneuvers, the Air Force said.

It was the second time in 24 hours that Russia has harassed US drones there.

“We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS,” Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, head of US Air Forces Central Command, said in a statement.

Col. Michael Andrews, Air Forces Central Command spokesman, said “the Russian harassment, including close fly-bys, by one SU-34 and one SU-35 and deploying flares directly into the MQ-9, lasted almost an hour. So it wasn’t a quick fly-by, but much more of a sustained and unprofessional interaction.”

US Air Forces Central released videos of the two separate incidents that took place Wednesday and Thursday. In the first incident, which took place about 10:40 a.m. local time Wednesday in Northwest Syria, Russian SU-35 fighters closed in on a Reaper, and one of the Russian pilots moved their aircraft in front of a drone and engaged the SU-35’s afterburner, which greatly increases its speed and air pressure.

The jet blast from the afterburner can potentially damage the Reaper’s electronics, and Grynkewich said it reduced the drone operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft.

Later a number of the so-called parachute flares moved into the drone's flight path. The flares are attached to parachutes.

In the second incident, which took place over Northwest Syria around 9:30 a.m. Thursday local time, “Russian aircraft dropped flares in front of the drones and flew dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved,” Grynkewich said.

The drones were not armed with weapons and are commonly used for reconnaissance missions.

Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, said in a statement that Russia's violation of ongoing efforts to clear the airspace over Syria "increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation.”

The French military also said that two of its fighter jets on patrol over the Iraq-Syria border area were forced to maneuver “to control the risk of accident” involving a Russian Sukhoi SU-35 warplane on Thursday.

The Russian aircraft had engaged in “non-professional interaction” with two of France’s Rafale planes deployed to the region as part of “Operation Chammal”, which seeks to contain ISIS group in Iraq and Syria, the French military said.



New Lebanon President Starts Consultations on Naming PM

Lebanese President-elect Joseph Aoun poses for a picture before the oath-taking ceremony at the parliament in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 January 2025. (EPA)
Lebanese President-elect Joseph Aoun poses for a picture before the oath-taking ceremony at the parliament in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 January 2025. (EPA)
TT

New Lebanon President Starts Consultations on Naming PM

Lebanese President-elect Joseph Aoun poses for a picture before the oath-taking ceremony at the parliament in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 January 2025. (EPA)
Lebanese President-elect Joseph Aoun poses for a picture before the oath-taking ceremony at the parliament in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 January 2025. (EPA)

New Lebanese President Joseph Aoun began parliamentary consultations Monday to designate a prime minister tasked with forming a government desperately needed to tackle major challenges in the crisis-hit country.

Caretaker premier Najib Mikati and Nawaf Salam, a favorite of anti-Hezbollah lawmakers who is the presiding judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, have emerged as the frontrunners.

The consultations, a constitutional requirement under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, follow Aoun's election last week amid foreign pressure for swift progress -- particularly from the United States.

The eastern Mediterranean nation had been without a president since October 2022, run by a caretaker government amid a crushing economic crisis compounded by all-out war between Lebanese Iran-backed group Hezbollah and Israel.

By convention, Lebanon's prime minister is a Sunni Muslim.

Opposition lawmakers on Saturday had thrown their backing behind anti-Hezbollah lawmaker Fouad Makhzoumi, a wealthy businessman who has good foreign relations.

But on Monday he said he withdrew his candidacy to "make way for consensus between all who believe in the need for change around the name of Judge Nawaf Salam".

Aoun's consultations with political blocs got underway at 8:15 am (0615 GMT) with a meeting with deputy parliament speaker Elias Abu Saab, the official National News Agency said.

- 'Part of the accord' -

A source close to Hezbollah told AFP that both Hezbollah and powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri's Amal movement supported Mikati.

Mikati, who has already formed three governments and has good relations with Lebanon's political parties and several foreign countries, has denied any prior arrangement exists for the naming of a PM.

One of the country's richest men, Mikati has headed the country in a caretaker capacity throughout the presidential vacuum.

Mikati said on the sidelines of the presidential vote on Thursday that he was ready to serve the country "if needed".

Whoever heads Lebanon's new government will face major challenges, including implementing reforms to satisfy international donors amid the country's worst economic crisis in its history.

They will also face the daunting task of reconstructing swathes of the country after the Israel-Hezbollah war and implementing the November 27 ceasefire agreement, which includes the thorny issue of disarming Hezbollah.

- Opposition to Mikati -

Other lawmakers have instead proposed International Court of Justice judge Salam, a highly respected former ambassador whose name frequently comes up in such consultations.

Late Sunday saw last-ditch attempts to unify opposition and independent positions, with the aim of rallying around Salam and blocking Mikati's path to the premiership.

Hezbollah's opponents see Mikati as part of an old political system that the group has within its grip.

After Aoun pledged a "new phase" for Lebanon in his inaugural speech, anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said that "like it or not, Mikati was from the previous lot".

According to Lebanon's constitution, the president designates the prime minister in consultation with the parliament speaker, choosing the candidate with the most votes during the consultations.

Nominating a premier does not guarantee a new government will be formed imminently.

The process has previously taken weeks or even months due to deep political divisions and horse-trading.