A US Air Force multi-role fighter came “dangerously” close to a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the airspace of Syria’s Homs province on Sunday, a Russian officer in the Middle Eastern country said, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

The US armed forces have deployed around 900 soldiers in Syria and another around 2,500 in neighboring Iraq, as part of the so-called anti-jihadist coalition, with the mission of preventing the re-strengthening of the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS), which had taken over vast areas of the territory of these countries. two countries in 2014 but then saw the “caliphate” he founded crumble like a house of cards, under attack from multiple directions.

“An F/A-18 fighter-bomber came dangerously close to an An-30 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which was performing a scheduled flight in Syrian airspace,” said Squadron Leader Alek Ignasyuk, who is serving in Syria, according to TASS.

“The Russian crew, demonstrating high professionalism, immediately took the necessary measures to prevent a collision,” he added.

The incident took place near the at-Tanf district of Homs, according to TASS.

Reuters news agency was unable to independently verify this information.

The US Defense Department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

The US has established an advanced base in the at-Tanf region, on Jordanian territory, very close to the Hashemite kingdom’s borders with Syria as well as Iraq.