Near Miss: U.S. Fighter-Bomber and Russian Aircraft in Dangerous Encounter Over Homs

A U.S.-led coalition fighter-bomber jet came dangerously close to a Russian surveillance aircraft in Syria's Homs province. The U.S. has troops in Syria and Iraq to assist local forces against Islamic State. The incident was reported by Russia's TASS, citing a Russian military official in Syria.

A U.S.-led coalition's fighter-bomber jet dangerously approached a Russian surveillance aircraft over Syria's Homs province on Sunday, as reported by Russia's TASS news agency. The report, citing a Russian military official, adds tension to the ongoing military presence in the region.

The U.S. has stationed 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq to support local forces in preventing a resurgence of Islamic State, which once controlled large areas of both countries. Captain Oleg Ignasyuk of the Russian Center for Reconciliation stated that the Russian crew acted with high professionalism to avoid a collision.

The incident occurred in the al-Tanf region, an area where the U.S. maintains a military base. The U.S. Department of Defence has yet to respond to requests for comment. Reuters has not independently verified the incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)