US jets fire warning flares after Russian planes enter American air space in terrifying close call over Syria
US pilot had to 'aggressively manoeuvre to avoid a collision' when Putin's jet came too close
US fighter jets narrowly avoided a crash as they intercepted Russian warplanes and chased them out of a no-fly zone in Syria, the Pentagon has revealed.
The two F-22 Raptors fired warning flares after a pair of Sukhoi-25 aircraft entered an agreed "deconfliction area" in air space east of the Euphrates river on Wednesday.
At one point a Russian jet came so close that an American pilot had to "aggressively manoeuvre to avoid a mid-air collision", said Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon.
The Raptor stealth jets were providing air cover to coalition ground forces fighting ISIS when the Russian aircraft flew into US-controlled air space near Albu Kamal.
Mr Pahon said: "The F-22s conducted multiple manoeuvres to persuade the Su-25s to depart our deconflicted air space, including the release of chaff and flares in close proximity to the Russian aircraft and placing multiple calls on the emergency channel to convey to the Russian pilots that they needed to depart the area."
Coalition officials contacted the Russians through a communication link to avoid a "miscalculation", he said.
The incident lasted for about 40 minutes before the Russian pilots left the area and flew back into the Russian zone.
US officials have said that as the battlefield against ISIS shrinks, they expect Russian and US aircraft to be in closer proximity.
The "deconflicted air space" is meant to ensure there is no clash between US and Russian aircraft.
Moscow agreed its air force would stay on the West side of the Euphrates.
But since early November, Russian jets have flown east of the river about six to eight times a day, the Pentagon said.
Mr Pahon said: "It's become increasingly tough for our pilots to discern whether Russian pilots' actions are deliberate or if these are just honest mistakes.
"The Coalition's greatest concern is that we could shoot down a Russian aircraft because its actions are seen as a threat to our air or ground forces."
Albu Kamal was ISIS's last urban stronghold in Syria until the army retook it last month.
Vladimir Putin, who visited his ally Bashar al-Assad earlier this week, is using his military to support the Syrian government but insists air strikes are only aimed at "terrorists".
US jets fly in support of a coalition of rebel forces that are fighting against the regime and also against ISIS.
Earlier this month we told how £12million of British taxpayers' cash was diverted to extremists in Syria before an aid project was suspended.
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