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Battleground Syria: How Israeli Fighter Jets Laid A ‘Bear Trap’ For Russian MiG-21s & Shot-Down Half A Dozen Aircraft

Syria could see a major conflict between Israel and Russia over the former’s attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian-affiliated targets in the conflict-torn nation, according to reports. The two militaries engaged in a deadly confrontation half a century ago in the same region.

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According to Russian news agency TASS, Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, claimed that Russian missile-defense systems brought down seven of eight Israeli missiles launched at sites near Aleppo on July 19.

It is believed Russia is supplying Syrian forces with more advanced anti-missile systems in a bid to help them counter Israeli raids.



Russia-Syria
A Russian fighter jet off the coast of Syria. (via Twitter)

Although they are not unfriendly to each other, Russia is frustrated with Israel ignoring the “rules of the game” Moscow seeks to lay down in Syria.

And the US apparently gave the Russians an implicit nod to operate more aggressively against Israel, London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported.


It said that the matter was discussed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden when the two leaders met in Geneva in June.

Russia’s Military Aid To Syria

Russia has a very strong military presence in Syria with naval and air bases. Since 2015, the Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s coastal Latakia governorate has been a major hub for Russian military operations against Islamic State and other terrorist groups in the region.



A Russian Air Force Su-34 and Syrian Air Force Su-24 over Idlib. (via Twitter)

The airbase is a key launchpad for MiG-29, Su-24 jets. Russian fighter jets have reportedly been able to eliminate over 200 terrorists in airstrikes in Palmyra.

Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit who was cited above, claimed that they had managed to destroy two terror encampments, 24 pickup trucks with heavy machine guns, and an estimated 500 kilograms of munitions and components used for the development of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Russia also has a naval base at Tartus, which is expected to be expanded. Kremlin is now planning to construct a floating dock to boost the port’s ship repair facilities, Russian military officials were quoted as saying by Voice of America.

Russia has deployed a variety of weapons including S-400 air defense systems, combat drones such as the ‘Kronshtadt Orion’, Lancet-3, and Kub in Syria.




Russia claimed Syrian air defense downed nearly 40 missiles fired by Israel, in May 2018. (via Twitter)

The Orion long-endurance drone, which has been developed by the Kronshtadt Group, is Russia’s answer US MQ-1 Predator drone. The UCAV has been operational in Syria since 2015. 

Russia has also deployed kamikaze drones or loitering munitions in counterterror operations in Syria. Recently, a video of a Lancet-3 destroying a vehicle in the Idlib region, where terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham operates, was featured prominently in the Russian media. 

In addition, the Syrian Army has deployed Russian-built Buk-M2E missile systems as part of its air defense measures. On 22 July, it managed to intercept four missiles fired by the Israeli Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets.

Following this, eight more missiles fired by Israeli fighters aimed towards an area southwest of Aleppo were intercepted. Seven of them were shot down by the Russian-made Pantsir-S and Buk-M2 systems.

This air defense success was in stark contrast to an episode in Russian military aviation history which took place on July 30, 1970. 

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Israeli Assets

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria and neighboring Iraq in recent times. IAF jets such as the F-35I and F-16s are routinely carrying out aerial raids.

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