US Military Criticizes ‘Unsafe’ Russian Fighter Jet Maneuver Near Alaska, Reports Reuters

Article Rewrite

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military has released footage of what it described as an unsafe maneuver by a Russian fighter jet near Alaska during an intercept operation conducted by U.S. forces last week.

The United States frequently conducts aerial intercepts of Russian aircraft operating in international airspace near Alaska, typically characterizing these interactions as safe and professional. However, officials indicated that this instance was different.

Air Force General Gregory Guillot, who oversees U.S. forces in North America, emphasized in a statement that the actions of a Russian Su-35 were "unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d expect from a professional air force."

The Russian embassy in Washington has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the incident.

On September 23, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that it had detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.

During that period, NORAD noted that Russian military activity is a routine occurrence and is not regarded as a threat.

An air defense identification zone is defined as international airspace located just beyond a country’s territorial boundaries, where incoming aircraft are required to identify themselves.