The United States has announced that it has deployed F-22 Raptor fighters in the Middle East in the context of what the US US Central Command (CENTCOM) described as “unsafe behaviour of Russian aircraft.”
The Central Command stated that the American fighters would integrate with the international coalition forces against the Islamic State in the air and on the ground, affirming that “Russian air force violations of de-confliction protocols increase the risk of escalation and miscalculation.” It added that the deployment of the aircraft demonstrates the United States’ ability to reposition its forces quickly.
In March, the head of CENTCOM, General Michael Kurilla, claimed that Russian armed attack aircraft regularly fly over US bases in Syria in an attempt to “provoke the Americans.” According to Kurilla, the Russian Aerospace Forces allegedly “significantly” increased the number of such manoeuvres since the beginning of March.
The F-22 Raptor, which took off from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, is considered the world’s best fifth-generation fighter and is known for its high stealth capabilities and advanced systems, according to Alhurra channel.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of these fighters, states that they possess unique features such as stealth, speed, and manoeuvrability, capable of conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes.
Meanwhile, General Alexus Grynkewich, the US Air Force commander in the Middle East, said the Russians have been flying “unprofessionally” over the American presence in Syria since March. Grynkewich stated that the Russians have been doing this periodically since 2019 and undermining US efforts by refusing to comply with agreed protocols, describing their flights in Syria as aggressive and carrying live ammunition, which represents an escalation in the current international situation.
In May, American F-22 Raptor fighter jets carried out an operational deployment to the Estonian air base at Ämari “to deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region.”
