Russian warplanes’ flights over US bases in Middle East pose dual danger, experts say

Although both Russia and the U.S. have declared missions in Syria to defeat Islamic State, their backing of opposing Syrian groups has led to deconfliction protocols.

These include agreements on areas where the two countries pledged to notify each other prior to transiting. Both sides have accused the other of violating these agreements.

Russia does not want a regional war between its ally Iran and the U.S., but it also wouldn’t mind if Middle Eastern conflicts distract the Pentagon from the war in Ukraine, Jonathan Lord, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said Thursday.

“They’re definitely stirring the pot,” Lord said. “Because tensions are generally heightened, there is a greater risk of miscalculation, everyone’s a little jumpier and the Russians are ones to press in those situations.”

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