Russia says its jet neared US aircraft. Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned of the risk of a U.S.- Russian conflict

A Russian fighter jet came into close proximity with a U.S. air force jet over Syria on Oct. 10 to identify it, “not to scare it,” Russia’s state ITAR-TASS news agency quoted the defense ministry as saying on Oct. 14.

The ministry said its SU-30CM jet was within 2-3 kilometers of the U.S. plane.

Washington said on Oct. 13 that U.S. and Russian jets came within visual identification range over Syria where the former Cold War foes are carrying out rival bombing campaigns.   

• Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, meanwhile, warned Oct. 14 of the risk of a U.S.-Russian conflict breaking out over Syria, as he readied to travel to the region.

American and Russian planes are currently waging separate air campaigns over Syria targeting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), although Washington and its allies have accused Moscow of targeting Western-backed rebels in order to prop-up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

• Steinmeier - who is to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in the coming days - said he wanted to “urgently caution the U.S. and Russia not to military engage in a way that in the end could lead to a conflict” between them.

“Secondly, we must strive to help build bridges between Iran and Saudi Arabia so that it becomes conceivable that in the end we can get all the regional partners we need at one table,” he said. 

“For that I’ll travel to Iran and Saudi Arabia next weekend.”

Steinmeier leaves late on Oct. 16 for Tehran to hold talks with his counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani. He will then travel on to Saudi Arabia before heading to Jordan, where he is due to join an OSCE Mediterranean Conference.
 [hurriyetdailynews.com]
14/10/15
--
-
Related:

• US dismisses cooperation with Russia on curbing ISIS/ISIL 

• Carter's remarks echoed what a Pentagon spokesman told reporters that U.S. and Russian aircraft came within visual range of each other during missions on Saturday. 

• What's Behind Carter's Claim That Russia Will Suffer Casualties in Syria?

• Rusia: "Moscú nunca cayó tan bajo como para esperar bajas de soldados de EE.UU."

• UPDATED: Russia will soon suffer 'casualties' after Syria intervention (US defence secretary)

• U.S. insists no cooperation with Russia air strikes on Syria

-