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

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTRY; CHANGES DECK

By Lejla Biogradlija and Riyaz ul Khaliq

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.