<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Russia said Tuesday it had scrambled an Su-27 fighter jet to "prevent violations of the state border" by two US Air Force strategic bombers flying over the Baltic Sea.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"After removing the foreign military aircraft from the Russian state border, the Russian fighter went back to its air base," the Russian defense ministry said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The army prevented the violation of the border, the statement said, adding that "the flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace."</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder confirmed that US aircraft were intercepted by Russia, saying the B-1 bombers were taking part in a "long-planned exercise in Europe."</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is the latest in a series of similar incidents.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just over a week ago, Russia said two aircraft, one German and one French, were intercepted attempting to "violate" its airspace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mid-April, Russia dispatched a fighter jet to escort a German naval aircraft over the Baltic Sea.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In March, an American drone crashed after colliding with a Russian jet over the Black Sea.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russia's defense ministry said it had scrambled jets after detecting a US drone over the Black Sea, but denied causing the crash, saying the aircraft had lost control. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>