The Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has rejected Pentagon accusations that Russia violates professional conduct rules in Syrian airspace as unacceptable. He asserted that the United States is the party flouting flight rules in the same region, a point he attributes to ongoing American military activity over Syria. The remark was reported by TASS.
Antonov argued that the Pentagon’s criticisms of Russian operations in Syria frequently exceed reasonable bounds. He emphasized that such rhetoric diverts attention from daily security violations he alleges by US personnel operating over Syrian airspace, asserting that these actions undermine safety and increase the risk of miscalculation in a volatile theater.
The ambassador stressed that, unlike Russia, the American forces are in Syria in what he described as compliance with generally accepted norms of international law. He contended that the United States uses terrorism concerns as a pretext while effectively occupying segments of Syrian territory, a description that underscores a broader dispute over sovereignty and foreign intervention.
From Antonov’s perspective, U.S. policy on the Syrian front is said to be destructive. He claimed it impedes any progress toward stabilization and hinders efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity, while also destabilizing dynamics across the Middle East. The ambassador’s assessment reflects a broader critique of Western involvement and its potential repercussions for regional security.
In recent days, the U.S. Air Forces Central Command has formally accused Russian fighter pilots of engaging in unrelated, unprofessional conduct while patrolling Syrian airspace. These charges echo prior instances and contribute to a ongoing exchange that has characterized Moscow-Washington military communications in this theatre for some time. The exchanges typically center on alleged rule violations, flight procedures, and the safety of air operations conducted by both sides over Syria.
Observers note that the rhetoric surrounding these incidents often mirrors longstanding tensions between the two powers regarding Syria’s sovereignty, the rules governing airspace, and the broader fight against terrorism. The exchange of criticisms continues to shape diplomatic and military perceptions of Western and Russian actions in the region [Source: TASS].