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Syria, Aleppo: A woman with her child

Photo: Anas Alkharboutli / dpa

International tug-of-war over Syria: Russia, as part of the UN Security Council, once again wants to limit an extension of aid deliveries from Turkey for about four million people in northeastern Syria to six months. This was announced by the country on Friday (local time). The six-month permit, adopted in January 2023, expires on Monday.

According to diplomats, the United Nations Security Council will now vote next Monday on both the Russian proposal and a proposal drafted by Switzerland and Brazil. This provides for the delivery of relief supplies to Syria via Turkey for a further twelve months. To pass a resolution, at least nine yes votes and no veto from Russia, China, the US, France or the UK are required.

As an ally of Syria, Russia has long questioned the necessity of the measures, as the country says they are a violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and more humanitarian aid should be delivered to the area from Syria itself. Russia had already vetoed the extension of deliveries by twelve months last year.

In 2014, the Security Council originally approved aid shipments from Iraq, Jordan and two border crossings in Turkey. However, Russia and China have insisted that the supply route to Syria is limited to one point on the Turkish border. The Council's approval was necessary at the time because the Syrian authorities did not agree to the humanitarian operation in opposition-held areas.

U.S. commander: Russian fighter jets harass U.S. drones over Syria

The Kremlin is also showing strength elsewhere – in the skies over Syria: According to a US commander, Russian warplanes have pressed three US drones over the civil war country this week. The Russian jets dropped flares in front of three US MQ-9 drones, whereupon they had to dodge, Air Force Commander Alexus Grynkewich said on Wednesday. A pilot had switched on the afterburner of his jet in front of a drone. This limited the operator's "ability" to safely control the drone.

According to the commander, the three MQ-9 drones carried out a mission against the jihadist militia Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

"The events are another example of the unprofessional and unsafe actions of the Russian Air Forces in Syria," said Air Force Lieutenant General Grynkewich. They endangered the security of the armed forces of both countries. He called on Moscow to "stop this reckless behavior."

In March, a U.S. MQ-9 drone crashed over the Black Sea after a Russian fighter jet touched the drone's propeller, according to U.S. sources. The Russian Defense Ministry denied being responsible for the crash and said the drone had lost control. The incident had led to new tensions between Washington and Moscow.

dop/Reuters/AFP