UPDATE: In another incident near the Alaskan coast, U.S. fighter jets have yet again intercepted four more Russian aircraft that entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which happened on Saturday, June 27.
According to The Hill, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has confirmed the incident involving U.S. F-22 fighter jets and four other Tu-142 reconnaissance jets.
According to the report, the Russian planes did not enter Canadian or American territory, but they did remain in the ADIZ for around eight hours.
The incident comes days after a similar event happened, making it the fourth this month alone.
Previous incidents were reported last month, May, as well as in April and March of this year.
"This year alone, NORAD forces have identified and intercepted Russian military aircraft including bombers, fighters, and maritime patrol aircraft on ten separate occasions when they have flown into the ADIZ, " said NORAD Commander Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy.
He assured the public that despite the ongoing global health crisis, they are capable of a "no-fail" mission to protect the country.
A report on Wednesday, June 10, confirmed that U.S. fighter jets had intercepted four Russian nuclear-capable bombers during a routine flight over neutral waters near Alaska.
Russian Nuclear-Capable Bombers Intercepted
According to Reuters, the four Russian Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers had an 11-hour flight that complied with the international law, citing the RIA news agency and the Russian Defence Ministry.
U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter jets intercepted the aircraft and escorted them during some stages of their flight.
Previous Interactions
This was the second time it happened since April, according to a report by FOX News, as a similar incident occurred back then when U.S. F-22 stealth fighter jets intercepted two Russian patrol aircraft that were flying near their territories.
The news was confirmed by the NORAD commander on Fox & Friends.
"We're ready 24/7," said Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy pertaining to these incidents.
Last month, an American spy plane flying over the Mediterranean sea was intercepted by two Russian fighter jets that "flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner," according to the statement released by the U.S. Navy on May 26.
Furthermore, the statement from the U.S. Navy said that the interaction between the two aircraft was "irresponsible" despite the fact that the Russian plane was operating in international territories.
"We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety," the statement concluded.
The United States and Russia to Begin Nuclear Arms Control Talks
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia will begin their nuclear arms control talks this month as the remaining treaty between the two countries is about to expire in February, according to a recent report by TechTimes.
The negotiations have already been agreed on by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as well as the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea.
The two will meet in Vienna to begin the talks, starting this June 22.
Nevertheless, Russia warned the U.S. that their insistence on including China in the negotiations could "scuttle efforts.
