You're reading: RFE/RL: Russia mocks British military after jets scramble from Romania

RFE/RL: Russia mocks British military after jets scramble from Romania

Published Aug. 26, 2018 at 9:35 am

This photo taken on September 22, 2016 shows a Britain's Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet taking off from RAF's Akrotiri base in Cyprus, for a coalition mission over Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a UK air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul, a senior Royal Air Force officer said. Air Commodore Sammy Sampson said Iraqi forces are confident they can retake the countrys second-largest city from IS and that British warplanes will provide the needed support.

Photo by AFP

The Russian Embassy in London mocked the British military and says its armed forces “pose no threat to Britain” two days after U.K. Typhoon jets based in Romania scrambled to investigate Russian aircraft heading toward NATO airspace.

“What kind of threat to Britain or its allies do a Russian patrol aircraft hypothetically pose while conducting flights off Russia’s own shore, some 1,500 miles away from the U.K.?” the embassy said in a statement on August 25.