US fighter jets intercepted four Russian warplanes flying near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said- the latest in a string of incidents this year in which Russian aircraft have entered Alaska’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). NORAD said two Russian Tu-95 long-range bombers and two Su-35 fighter jets were detected in the ADIZ, which is international airspace bordering US and Canadian sovereign airspace.

In response, NORAD deployed four F-16 fighter jets, four KC-135 tankers and an E-3 early warning and control aircraft “to positively identify and intercept" the Russian planes.

Ninth Incident Reported This Year

Officials stressed that Russian military activity in the ADIZ is common and does not pose a direct threat. The encounter was the ninth such in

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