U.S. Air Force jets intercept Russian bombers near Alaska

A pair of U.S. fighter jets intercepted two TU-95 bombers, similar to the one pictured here, Friday morning off the Alaskan coast. Photo courtesy of Russian Defense Ministry

May 13 (UPI) — Two U.S. Air Force fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The two nuclear capable Tupolev TU-95 Russian bombers came within 55 miles of Alaska’s west coast when they entered the 200-mile Air Defense Identification Zone on Friday, defense officials told Fox News.

Two Russian fighter jets accompanied the bombers, CNN reported.

The U.S. F-22 stealth fighter jets monitored the Cold War-era Russian bombers, which never entered sovereign North American airspace, Canadian Army Maj. Andrew Hennessey, a NORAD spokesman, said.

The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news website, first reported the intercept.

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