 Russian fighter jets harassed U.S. drones over Syria. U.S. military drones conducting an operation against Islamic State targets in Syria were harassed by Russian fighter jets. Three Russian Su-35 fighter jets intercepted three U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper, unmanned aerial vehicles in northeastern Syria, according to the senior commander in charge of Air Force operations in the Middle East. Air Force Lieutenant General Alex Grinkiewicz described the Russian maneuver against the MQ-9 Reaper drones, which officials said were monitoring ISIS targets in Syria as unsafe and unprofessional. Grinkiewicz said the jets broke established norms and protocols by dropping multiple parachute flares in front of the drones, subsequently forcing them to conduct evasive maneuvers. One of the Russian pilots also positioned their jet in front of a drone and engaged afterburner, thereby reducing the drone operator's ability to safely operate the aircraft. Grinkiewicz said we urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional Air Force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS. Grinkiewicz said this is at least the second time this year that a confrontation between U.S. drones and Russian fighter jets has occurred. The Pentagon in March released video footage of a Russian fighter jet colliding with a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone in international airspace, causing the drone to crash into the Black Sea.