Fighter jets of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) had flown over Syrian areas controlled by the US-led coalition, Hassan Hassan, editor in chief of the New Lines magazine, said in a tweet on February 10.

The US-led coalition and its local proxies hold vast parts of Syria’s northeastern region as well as the al-Tanf area in the southeastern region of the country. Hassan did not specify where RSAF’s alleged mission took place.

Saudi Arabia was a key member of the US-led coalition when it was first created in mid-2014 to counter ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Under the command of the coalition, RSAF fighter jets carried out airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria until 2016. Since then, no Saudi fighter jet has flown over Syria on a combat or noncombat mission.

The US-led coalition and the Saudi Ministry of Defense are yet to confirm or deny the information provided by journalist Hassan Hassan.

Saudi Arabia has been distancing itself from the war in Syria for the last few years. The kingdom halted its support for opposition armed factions in the war-torn country. At the same time, it continues to refrain from restoring full relations with Damascus.

The last Saudi move inside Syria was reported less than two years ago, when a group of 20 Saudi officers entered the country’s northeastern region. The officers were only on a visit to local Arab tribal leaders in the governorate of al-Hasakah.

The RSAF new mission over Syria, which is yet to be confirmed, may have been carried out in support of the US-led coalition, or as a message to Iranian-backed forces who recently expanded their presence near coalition-held areas.

Source: South Front