Ahead of President Biden’s first Oval Office address since announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race, the North American Aerospace Defense Command Public Affairs Office (NORAD) announced that it had sent fighter jets to intercept two Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers off the coast of Alaska.
In a press release, the agency confirmed that it detected, tracked and intercepted two Russian TU-95 military aircraft and two Chinese H-6 military aircraft flying within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24.
US and Canadian NORAD fighter jets intercepted the aircraft.
National security expert warns of ‘chaos’ in US elections as Harris enters the race
This will be the first time that Russia and China have conducted a joint bomber patrol off the coast of Alaska, Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson reported.
The report came less than an hour before Biden was due to deliver his first address to the nation after announcing he would not run for a second term as president.
Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump, latest attempt to kill an American on US soil
FILE – In this photo released by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, top, is intercepted near the Alaskan coastline on Monday, March 9, 2020. Fighter jets over Utah on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, intercepted a small, harmless balloon flying high above a mountainous region of the western U.S., according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. (North American Aerospace Defense Command via The Associated Press, File)
Click here to get the FOX News app
“The Russian and Chinese aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace. Russian and Chinese activity in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone is not considered a threat, and NORAD will monitor competitor activity near North America and respond accordingly,” the agency said.
It is not yet clear whether this is related to Biden’s speech.
Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
