Associated Press reports that last week eight Russian military aircraft, four warships, including two submarines, were spotted near Alaska during joint Russian-Chinese military exercises. The spokesperson of the US defense department – the Pentagon – emphasized at the press conference that the Russian warplanes did not fly into the US airspace and there was no reason to be alarmed. “This is not the first time we’ve seen the Russians and Chinese flying in the area. We’re obviously monitoring it closely. We’re ready to respond if necessary,” said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
On September 12, the US Armed Forces sent soldiers and two HIMARS systems to the small island of Shemya, where the US Air Force Station is located – the closest US military base to Russian territory. It is located 450 kilometers from the nearest Russian island and 1038 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Russia’s Kamchatka region, according to Alaska Beacon. This Air Force station houses a US long-range radar that monitors the launch and testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles by Russia, China and other countries.
The soldiers deployed by the U.S. armed forces on Shemya Island during the current exercise came from the base of the 11th Airborne Division, which is located near Anchorage, the capital of Alaska, the newspaper reported. Stars and Stripes. The division commander, Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert, released a statement saying, “At a time when adversary exercises are increasing around Alaska and throughout the region, including the joint Russian-Chinese bomber patrol exercise that took place in June, our operation on Shemya Island demonstrates the division’s capabilities with high readiness and lethal forces to respond at short notice to what is happening in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.” The U.S. military has not specified how long the deployed troops will remain on Shemya Island.
2024-09-20 05:42:17