UPDATE 2 - US fighter jets intercept 2 Russian, 2 Chinese aircraft near Alaska

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

By Lejla Biogradlija, Riyaz ul Khaliq, and Burc Eruygur

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) - Two Russian and two Chinese aircraft were detected and intercepted by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the command said on Thursday.

“NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24, 2024. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept,” the command said in a statement.

The Russian and Chinese aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, it added.

This Russian and Chinese activity is not seen as a “threat,” and the command will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence, it said.​​​​​​​

The statement also said that four Russian warplanes were detected in May, which were also not perceived as a threat.

Responding to the NORAD statement, Beijing said it was a joint drill by Chinese and Russian air forces.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said the two nations held their 8th joint aerial strategic patrol over the Bering Sea.

A later statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said the patrol also took place over the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Chukchi Sea, the latter of which is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.

“The duration of the joint flight of Russian and Chinese aircraft was more than five hours,” the statement further said, noting that aircraft from both countries operated “strictly in accordance with the provisions of international law.”

It went on to say that there were no violations of the airspace of foreign countries, adding that the patrol was not directed against third countries.