Russian spy plane vanishes off Syria

[stockhausen]

The trace of the Il-20 on flight control radars disappeared during an attack by four Israeli F-16 jets on Syrian facilities in Latakia province," Russia's Tass news agency reported.

At the same time Russian air control radar systems detected rocket launches from the French frigate Auvergne, which was located in that region.

Fairly clear evidence that the West (and Saudi Arabia) is intimately involved again in regime change again in the Middle East.

 

[stockhausen]

Fairly clear evidence because you've written it?

Not really, no - HERE is the (current) BBC report.

I love that the Russians are now blaming the Israeli F16s who allegedly "forced the Il-20 plane into the path of Syrian air defence systems on Monday after failing to give Moscow enough warning of a strike on Syrian targets". The Israelis were of course "sightseeing" at very short notice.

You have to sympathise with the average Syrian on the Idlib omnibus who aside from a tyrannical regime has also to suffer the interference of foreign powers.

 

[stockhausen]

I imagine that the Russians will have to supply updated anti-aircraft systems to Syria and train the cowboys.

This sort of disaster seems to happen fairly infrequently, I am reminded of the USS Vincennes shooting down an Iran Air Airbus passenger aircraft - I believe that the captain was decorated for his stupidity - the Syrians involved may not be so lucky.

 

[stockhausen]

For several years, Israel and Russia have maintained a special hotline to prevent their air forces from clashing in the skies over Syria. Israeli military officials have previously praised its effectiveness. As well as the hotline, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has made trips to Moscow to seek to convince President Vladimir Putin not to supply Assad with Russian-made anti-aircraft defences that might endanger Israeli jets on sorties. (LINK).

As von Moltke once said "No plan survives contact with the enemy".

 

[stockhausen]

I doubt that either Israel or Russia want to get drawn into an armed conflict . . . although I imagine that Agent Orange would be absolutely delighted . . . just so long as North Korea doesn't join in the fun.

 

[stockhausen]

This shows how easily one of a limited scope could come about. If they can accidentally shoot down their own planes they can accidentally shoot down Israel’s.

Frankly, I can't see much chance of the Syrians ever managing to shoot down any Israeli F16s; the Russians are not going to trust them with 21st century hardware.