U.S. JETS STEER CLEAR OF RUSSIANS

The U.S. military has had to divert its flight path over Syria because of competing Russian combat flights there, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

In “at least one instance,” the U.S. military had to conduct a “safe maneuver,” Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters.

The intent was to  “ensure the separation of aircraft.”In “at least one instance,” the U.S. military had to conduct a “safe maneuver,” Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. The intent was to “ensure the separation of aircraft.” A senior defense official told The Daily Beast that the interaction happened two days ago when a Russian flight came within 20 miles of a manned U.S. aircraft flying over eastern Syria.

The self-proclaimed Islamic State dominates much of northeast Syria.

That Russian flights were over eastern Syria suggests that Russia is conducting military movement in territory under the ISIS control, despite U.S. assertions that Russia’s focus is on other opponents to the current Syrian leader.