ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s supply of bomb-carrying drones to Russia could result in Moscow helping Tehran’s program become more lethal, raising risks across the Middle East, the top commander of the U.S. Air Force in the Middle East said on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the chief of U.S. Air Force Central, described the potential danger posed by Russia’s “cooperation and collusion” with Iran as a threat emanating from the airspace over Syria, while Tehran is blocking merchant ships in the waters of the Persian Gulfs threatened.
American pilots have already faced more aggressive maneuvers by Russian pilots in Syria, while a new deployment of U.S. air forces has been deployed to protect commercial shipping in the crucial Gulf Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of all the world’s oil passes .
“I am concerned about the growing relations between Russia and Iran and the drones that are being supplied to Russia,” Grynkewich told reporters during a news conference at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. “Who would have ever thought that the Russian Federation would have to turn to Iran for military capabilities, and yet here we are. This means that Russia actually owes Iran something. I worry about the level of collaboration that could take place.”
The Iranian mission to the United Nations and the Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Tehran has issued contradictory statements about the drones Russia used to attack Ukraine during its war against the country, at times denying arming Moscow while saying it had provided them before the war against Ukraine began . Western nations, Ukraine and experts who have forensically examined the drones have linked them to Iran and said their large numbers on the battlefield indicate constant resupply by Tehran.
Grynkewich said he is concerned that Russian upgrades to Iranian drone technology could backfire on Tehran, making these bomb-carrying devices even more dangerous. And if Russia owes Iran the munitions, it could retaliate by increasing pressure on American pilots still flying over Syria and Iraq to attack remnants of the Islamic State group.
“There could be some cooperation and collusion between Russia and Iran here in Syria. We’ll see where this goes,” Grynkewich said. “This is something we are watching very closely. This budding relationship is of military importance to me.”
Meanwhile, Russian pilots have acted aggressively in recent months, flying close to both manned F-35 fighter jets and drones over Syria. The Air Force publicly showed how a Russian pilot poured fuel on a drone and tried to set it on fire with flares.
But Grynkewich described some of those behaviors as declining in recent weeks.
“I do not attribute any causality to the fact that we called them out, but showing the unprofessional nature of their behavior since then, they still intercept our MQ-9s (drones) from time to time, but it is in a lot safer,” he said. “I would still call it unprofessional because it is not in line with the established rules that we keep certain distances, but at this point it is safe.”
The U.S. and Russia still operate a so-called “deconflict line” to ensure their planes don’t crash into each other or get too close. Grynkewich described 90% of the calls as routine, although 10% can involve issues where countries are vehemently arguing over each other’s approach to Syria, which is still mired in its years-long war.
“There are certainly heated arguments,” said Grynkewich. “Although these arguments are heated, they are always professional between the two sides.”
In Syria, meanwhile, Grynkevich said “hundreds” of fighters from the Russian mercenary group Wagner are still operating in the country, even after their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a mysterious, fiery plane crash after marching on Moscow and challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin had.
“We have seen, as expected, some tensions between these forces and the Russian forces stationed there,” Grynkewich said. “By and large, it appears that they have reached some sort of agreement… (and) they will continue to work together to achieve the Russian Federation’s goals in Syria.”
The Persian Gulf region has seen a large deployment of U.S. sailors and Marines as well as F-35s, F-16s and other military aircraft in recent weeks amid concerns that Iran could target shipping. The Pentagon is also considering a plan to send US troops aboard merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Grynkewich said the flexible deployment is likely to continue for some time, supported by the extensive network of bases America has across the region.
“Part of our approach here in the Middle East has been to deploy forces to the region when the threat requires it,” he said. “This is a lasting commitment to the region. We’re not going anywhere.”
But as the Biden administration takes office, concerns are growing that too many troops could be sent to the Middle East after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, while Washington sees a growing threat in China and Russia. When asked about the mission to combat the Islamic State group, Grynkewich said he could assume that it may be coming to an end.
“We are, so to speak, in the final phase of the operation, where we are now trying to create conditions for the normalization of relations that will allow us to continue to put pressure on ISIS, but not have to have a full task force,” Grynkewich said an acronym for the extremist group. “I really can’t say exactly when that transition will take place, but I think over the next few years we will certainly see adjustments in the way things develop.”