US fighters scrambled to escort several Russian aircraft in eastern Syria on February 15, 2022, according to a CNN report.
The report cited two US officials with direct knowledge of the incident who said that a Russian cargo aircraft and two Tu-22 Backfire bombers flew into the area known as the Eastern Syria Security Area. According to the article, the aircraft did not give the US-led coalition enough notice that they were flying through the area.
The report further states that when the US told the Russians more notice was required, the Russian aircraft said they were continuing. US F-16s and other coalition aircraft then flew alongside the Russian aircraft for a short time until they left the area, CNN said.
The US sources told CNN that the incident was not thought to be related to increased tensions with Russia over Ukraine.