The P-8A Poseidon aircraft flew close to Syria’s Mediterranean coast on Saturday where Russia’s naval task force operates. Hmeimim military airport, Southeast of the city of Lattakia, is Russia’s strategic center of operations against the ISIS and other terrorist groups.

According to reports, the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, designed and built for anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering, took off from the Mediterranean island of Sicily. The aircraft, with tail number 168858 then flew over Syria’s coast for one hour in close proximity to the Russian airbase and logistics facility located at Tartus port, South of Lattakia.

Observers believe that the US spy planes have recently increased their flights over Syria to gather intelligence on the Syrian army and the Russian forces' moves in the region.

According to reports, on August 30 and September 2, a P-8A Poseidon spy plane was also spotted flying toward the vicinity of the Russian airbase after it took off from the Sigonella naval air base on the island of Sardinia, FNA reported.

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