Videos: Russian military vehicle rams US military MRAP in Syria
Video has emerged of in which Russian troops deployed in northeastern Syria harrassed U.S. military vehicles and rammed one of them in a Tuesday confrontation.
Reporter Joyce Karam tweeted video of the encounter, “Video of US-Russia troops confrontation in Northern #Syria this week. Politico reporting now that 4 US troops were injured as result.”
Video of US-Russia troops confrontation in Northern #Syria this week. Politico reporting now that 4 US troops were injured as result: pic.twitter.com/zbEgD5jzgc
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 26, 2020
In the video, Russian vehicles and a helicopter appear to chase after a pair of U.S. military MaxxPro Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) in Syria. What appears to be a Russian Typhoon-K MRAP then drives up alongside the U.S. vehicle and steers into it, while a second Russian vehicle cuts the U.S. MRAP off from the other side. The ramming incident appears to separate one U.S. MRAP from the other. After the ramming, several Russian vehicles, including a BTR-80, a Ural-4320, and two Tigr vehicles, continue to chase the U.S. vehicles.
A Russian Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-35M Hind helicopter can be seen circling over the confrontation on the ground.
Politico reported four U.S. service members were injured following the ramming incident and diagnosed with mild concussion-like symptoms.
A Twitter user shared footage of another angle of the incident. “Video of another skirmish between Russian and US forces in NE Syria from Aug 24. It appears there are two US vehicles and Russian BTR-80, 2 Typhoon-K MRAPs, Ural-4320, and 2 Tigr vehicles with Russian Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-35M helicopters overhead. That’s an American MaxxPro MRAP sandwiched between a Russian BTR-80 APC and a Russian Typhoon-K MRAP with a Russian Mi-35M helicopter overhead.
That’s an American MaxxPro MRAP sandwiched between a Russian BTR-80 APC and a Russian Typhoon-K MRAP with a Russian Mi-35M helicopter overhead. 314/https://t.co/RjzbJTG2sj pic.twitter.com/MzAhzZ7o7v
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 26, 2020
“Another video of the encounter between US and Russian forces from August 24 in NE Syria. Those are Russian Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-35M helicopters flying just above the fracas. Presumably, the two US vehicles were trying to block the Russian patrol,” the Twitter user posted, with a third video from the incident.
Another video of the encounter between US and Russian forces from August 24 in NE Syria. Those are Russian Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-35M helicopters flying just above the fracas. Presumably, the two US vehicles were trying to block the Russian patrol. 315/https://t.co/RjzbJTG2sj pic.twitter.com/I4cKI632cI
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 26, 2020
U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Jonathan Hoffman condemned the Russian actions in a Thursday statement, saying, “On Tuesday, Russian forces breached our deconfliction arrangement in Syria and injured U.S. service members with their deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior. Our military deconflicts operations in time and space with Russian forces in Syria to protect the force and mitigate risk of unintended escalation.”
Hoffman said, “We commend our personnel on the ground for deescalating this unfortunate encounter through professionalism and restraint, which are hallmarks of the U.S. military. We have advised the Russians that their behavior was dangerous and unacceptable. We expect a return to routine and professional deconfliction in Syria and reserve the right to defend our forces vigorously whenever their safety is put at risk.”
A similar interaction between U.S. troops and Russian military police in February, saw a U.S. MRAP try to run a Russian vehicle off the road after it cut in between U.S. military vehicles driving in a convoy.
