With the U.S. reducing its military presence in the Levant to a fraction compared to the massive footprint it had in the region during the campaigns in Iraq and against Daesh, and with Russia preoccupied with its failed war in Ukraine, it would seem unlikely that tensions between the two powers would rise here, away from the European Theatre of Operations. Yet this is what happened, when Russian pilots flew too close for comfort to American planes over Syria, and American patrols came under fire by Russian-affiliated groups. Is it by design or neglect, and can it escalate further into a major confrontation?

Host - Col. (Res.) Reuven Ben-Shalom, TV7 Powers-in-Play Panelist, Cross-Cultural Strategist and Associate at ICT, Reichman UniversityPanel:1. Col. (Ret.) Dr. Eran Lerman, Co-host TV7 Middle East Review, Powers-in-Play Panelist, JISS VP and Editor in Chief of the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune2. Brigadier General (Res.) Doron Gavish, Former Air Defense Chief, Israel Air Force3. Analyst Mr. Amir Oren