On August 17, an F/A-18 fighter from the U.S.-led international coalition came dangerously close to colliding with an AN-30 aircraft belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) over the Al-Tanf area in Syria’s Homs province.
The Russian state media, citing Captain 1st Rank Oleg Ignasyuk, deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria, reported that the Russian crew’s quick and professional response successfully averted a potential collision.
The close encounter occurred between 11:05 and 11:10 Moscow time at an altitude of 6,700 meters. The An-30 was on a scheduled flight within Syrian airspace when the coalition’s F/A-18 fighter bomber approached it dangerously.
Ignasyuk explained that the incident highlighted the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the Russian crew, who took immediate measures to prevent any collision.
Russia said the incident was part of a broader pattern of airspace violations. On the same day, the Russian side recorded 18 violations of Syrian airspace rules by coalition aircraft.
These violations involved multiple pairs of F-15 and Typhoon fighters, F/A-18 fighter-bombers, and A-10 attack aircraft.
Additionally, there were six instances where unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the coalition breached deconfliction protocols established on December 9, 2019, without coordinating with the Russian side.
Under an agreement between the US and Russia, aircraft are expected to maintain a safe distance of several miles.
However, in recent years, accusations from both sides about dangerous maneuvers have been on the rise. Last year, tensions were high when a Russian jet fired flares that hit a US drone over Syria, just months after a Russian aircraft destroyed a US drone over the Black Sea.
In August 2023, Col. Mike Andrews of US Air Force Central Command had multiple incidents involving Russian fighter jets performing aggressive maneuvers directed at US and coalition aircraft.
These maneuvers involved high-speed, head-on passes designed to elicit a reaction, with Russian aircraft coming within less than 1,000 feet of US jets.
Such activities have intensified since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, reflecting growing tension between the two military powers in the region.
Philippines & China Trade Accusations
Early on August 19, a new flashpoint emerged in the South China Sea when Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels collided at Sabina Shoal, a disputed area between the two nations.
This incident has sparked a renewed exchange of accusations and heightened tensions. According to Gan Yu, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, a Chinese coast guard vessel intercepted a Filipino ship en route to Sabina Shoal in the early hours of August 19.
Yu claimed that the Philippine vessel exhibited “unprofessional and dangerous behavior”, leading to the collision. He asserted that the responsibility for the incident rested entirely with the Philippines.
In contrast, Philippines authorities challenged this version of events, attributing the collision to what they described as “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” by the Chinese Coast Guard.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that at around 3:23 a.m., the Chinese vessel CCGV 3104 damaged their ship, the BRP Cape Engano (MRRV-4411).
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The vessel sustained a hole with a diameter of 1.10 meters on the starboard quarter and damage to the engine exhaust measuring 40 centimeters in diameter.
According to Philippine officials, around 16 minutes later, another Chinese coast guard vessel, CCGV 21551, rammed the Filipino ship BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) twice.
This collision resulted in minor structural damage, including a 2.5-foot by 3-foot hole in the auxiliary room on the port side and further damage on the starboard quarter, where the incident caused damage to 13 stanchion posts and a dent of approximately one foot.
“This is the biggest structural damage that we have incurred as a result of the dangerous maneuvers carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard,” PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela said.
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Despite the damage, Philippines authorities affirmed that the two affected vessels would continue their mission to deliver essential supplies to personnel stationed on Patag and Lawak Islands.
The commitment underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Philippines in maintaining its maritime operations amid increasing confrontations.
According to the Washington Post, the clash at Sabina Shoal is particularly significant because it marks the first major confrontation in the area in decades.
Located just 86 miles from the Philippine island of Palawan, Sabina Shoal is much closer to Philippine territory than other contested areas, such as Second Thomas Shoal, which has been at the center of disputes due to a grounded Philippine vessel.
China asserts control over most of the South China Sea, including Sabina and Second Thomas Shoals. This broad claim has been a source of ongoing conflict with the Philippines and other nations with competing territorial claims in the region.
Ray Powell, Director of SeaLight at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, told EurAsian Times, “The Philippine Coast Guard vessels were exercising their freedom of navigation rights on the high seas and within the Philippines’ lawful exclusive economic zone.”
“By violently interdicting their conduct, the China Coast Guard has broken virtually every known international law, regulation, and agreement meant to ensure peace, stability, and safety at sea,” he added.
When asked about the likelihood of similar incidents recurring in the future, he noted that such occurrences were quite possible. That is because “China almost never retreats from a sovereignty claim no matter how preposterous it may be, while the Philippines is dedicated to upholding its legal presence at Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal.”
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