- Edited: December 9, 2012. Plead added june 3, 2014.
Syria Air force, SyAAF, MiG-21.MiG-23, L-39 Albatros, Su-22 and Su-24 bombardments.
Please notice: this is a layman's post. If you read it please don't skip the notes during and at the bottom of the post. Also before you decide what to think of my writings: please read through my latest post (plead added 03/06/2014).
Comments (December 5, 2012) and related posts:
The aim of this post - when I wrote it at the end of August 2012 - was to show some of the evidence of the escalating use of fixed wing air-crafts by the Syrian government air-force.
Since then aerial bombardments have escalated even further, and during September, October and November I have added more links and a few updates to the post, but this only represents a fraction of the recordings and reports, that have been uploaded, in this period.
During these months also a number of heavier aerial bombs have been more and more frequently video-reported: the fuel air (or vacuum) ODAB-500 bomb(see note), the general purpose FAB-500 bomb, the concrete penetration BetAB-500 bomb (all 500 kg bombs), the 250 kg RBK-250 cluster bomb in at least three variants (two with different seizes of high explosives bomblets and the most recent variant with incendiary bomblets). Also the incendiary ZAB 100-105 bomb has been identified in a video-reported.
Bombs like the OFAB 100-120 and OFAB 250-270 - before the escalation typically dropped by L-39 jets and helicopters respectively - have continued to be video-reported. So has the improvised helicopter dropped so-called barrel bombs.
Evidence of these bombs being used has been examined by Eliot Higgins on Brown Moses Blog in these posts:
- Evidence Of New Incendiary Bombs Used In Syria (ZAB 100-105)
- First Evidence Of Incendiary Submuntion Cluster Bombs Used In Syria
- Selected Cluster Bomb Videos October 17th - 23rd
by N.R. Jenzen-Jones on The Rogue Adventurer in these posts:
- Update: Cluster Munitions in Syria (ZAB-2.5 incendiary submunitions)
- ZAB-100-105 Incendiary Bombs in Syria
and in two posts on this blog:
- Evidence of large unguided Blast Bombs reported from Syria
- Fuel air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh
Also relevant:
- The Weapons Of The Syrian Air Force
* note: the name "thermobaric" is sometimes used in relation to fuel-air bombs, but there are differences between what the two names are meant to describe. The difference has to do with the length of the delay between spreading of the fuel and its ignition. Thermobaric weapons do this immediately, fuel-air bombs usually have delays of between 0.1 - 5 seconds (Wikipedia uses "thermobaric" differently than what I here describe)(this is part of corrections regarding this made to this post 09/12/2012).
During the last month video reports have shown, that deployment of jets seems to have gone from being unseen to almost becoming the norm. This is mainly seen as a consequence of the government's forces loosing control of more and more areas, but to me the deployment of fixed wing air-crafts seems to have escalated beyond that. If so, this could either indicate a general increase in the brutality, or a step up in the difficulties for troops to move over land all over the country.
In this post I have collected some of the material that have come out from the different regions. If needed there is a map at the bottom of this post, where the main cities of the regions are marked.
* note: Except in a few cases I have not tried to verify this material, therefore locations and dates are those given by the uploaders. Models of air-crafts given in the texts are on my account (unless other is mentioned) and are to a large degree based on only having to distinguish between those models Syria is known (by Wikipedia) to operate. (added 30/08/2012 and 20/02/2013)
region: Deir Ez-Zour:
- Mohassan:
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| frame from video uploaded to R-Y-E Syria's YouTube channel 13/08/2012, (via @HamaEcho ) |
The first video-reports of fighter jets other than the L-39 (that I have seen) came out from Syria on August 13, 2012. And according to the reports they were from the area around Mohassan in the Deir Ez-Zour region of Eastern Syria. The recordings were all uploaded to the same Youtube channel and claimed to be of jets attacking the area. The jet in the frame above is from one of these videos and, and os showing a MiG-23, which shortly after was recorded catching fire - presumably hit by heavy machinegun fire (see frames below).
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| three frames from same video as above, uploaded to R-Y-E Syria's YouTube channel 13/08/2012. (via @HamaEcho ) |
The same channel also posted three videos showing MiG-21s (the first on the below list is a bit uncertain, but, from the context, I believe to be able to exclude other models).
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| two frames from video uploaded to R-Y-E Syria's YouTube channel 13/08/2012. (via @maikito0171) |
video: showing a jet with a shape that matches a MiG-21
video: showing a jet that I believe to be a MiG-21 - frame above to the left.
video: a MiG-21 (identifiable at 0:10)
- MiG-21 in Wikipedia
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video: first video showing a MiG-23 getting hit. (identifiable in the second video)
video: second video of the MiG-23 getting hit
video: clear view of underside of a MiG-23 - frame above to the right.
video: a MiG-23
video: said to show the captured pilot.
- MiG-23 in Wikipedia
The tweeter
"...Point of interest. Those MiG-23s that appeared in the videos (and the one which was downed) are BN version." (12:29 PM - 18 Aug 12).
The basis for the identification - according @Nikopol5 - is the absence of an air-to-air radar in the nose. If so, this would make it a ground attack variant of the MiG-23, which corresponds with the low altitude it is flying at during the video.
- Abu Kamal:
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| image sources: Left: frame from video on Omar Abu Lila YouTube Channel. Centre: this video on SyrianExile1 YouTube Channel. Right: this video on لواء الله أكبر YouTube Channel (via @Brown_Moses). |
video: smoke from explosion and sound of jet - frame above to the left.
video: showing damages after air strike - centre frame.
video: sub-munitions (or bomblets) from a cluster bomb - frame to the right.
video: sound of jet and visible smoke in the distance.
Blogger @Brown_Moses has more about the cluster munitions here.
* note 1: the video with the cluster munitions has August 26th as upload date, while the title states August 27th as the date of the attack. This could indicate some kind of falsehood, but I suspect it's a timezone issue.
* note 2: material about the August 13, 2012, MiG-23 shoot down have been moved to this section from another post (Syrian Airforce use of the L-39 Albatros) on December 5, 2012.
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region: Aleppo:
The arial attacks on Aleppo and the cities of that region have been widely documented. They have for a large part been done with the L-39 Albatros, which is a trainer jet that also have the capacity of being used as a light ground attack plane.
For more about this see the post 'Syrian Airforce use of the L-39 Albatros'. Also on this. blog.
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region: Idlib:
This area has been slipping from the governments military control since the beginning of the uprising, but with the opposition forces latest offensive in Aleppo, the importance of control of the roads leading to the West (Latakia) and South (Hama/Damascus) from Aleppo has become critical.
I see this as at least part of the reason why the cities in the South-Eastern part of the Idlib region - from following video reports - seem to have been particularly intensely targeted over the last couple of weeks.
The videos listed below are uploaded August 22 - 29th.
I see this as at least part of the reason why the cities in the South-Eastern part of the Idlib region - from following video reports - seem to have been particularly intensely targeted over the last couple of weeks.
The videos listed below are uploaded August 22 - 29th.
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| image sources: Two frames from a video originally found on Freesyria2011free's YouTube Channel. Uploaded 29/08/2012. The video is now posted here. |
Maarrat-an-Numan is both the name of a city and of a large part of the Idlib governorate. The city is located along the strategically important M5 highway, but I can not say how fare from the city this attack came (if the video is authentic).
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| image sources: Left: frame from s video that's no longer posted (link & ID of jet via @Guardian_Mario). Centre: also from a video no longer posted. Right: this video. All videos were originally found on Freesyria2011free's YouTube channel, uploaded 23-24/08/2012. |
video from Kansaffra: MiG-23 firing autocannon - left frame above.
video from Kaffar Ruma:MiG-21 over with visible anti air-craft fire - centre frame.
video from Kafr Sejena: a fighter jet.
video from Ariha (Jerico): MiG-21.
video from Sarmin: a Mil Mi 25.
video: a Mil Mi 25 over Ariha (Jerico)
* note: this linked-to video substitutes a video claimed to show a Mil Mi 25 over the Aleppo-Latakia Highway that was earlier linked to here, but which is no longer awailable.
thanks to @troublejee, @markito0171, @massdahl & @Guardian_Mario for links and help with locations and aircraft IDs.
Opposition Attack on Taftanaz Military Helicopter Base:
- Afis military air-base: reports have come out about an attack by opposition forces on a military air-base just South of Taftanaz in Idlib. This attack is claimed to have resulted in a number of destroyed helicopters:
@SyrianSmurf: 'Video showing a helicopter burning in the #Taftanaz airport. #Idlib #Syria [video-link]'
On November 2, 2012, Afis air-base was attacked again. The recordings of the attack showed an increased ability on the opposition's side to deploy heavier weapons.
According to reports, the attack was halted after one or two days due to lack of ammunition. More about the attack on Brown Moses Blog and on this map marker-label.
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| A panorama of Afis helicopter base - computer generated by @Guardian_Mario from a YouTube video, uploaded on september 10th, 2012 (rotating and cropping are my responsibility). |
High resolution stitched together panorama over looking the helicopter fleet of Afis on October 27, 2012.
In early January 2013 the attack on the airbase was again intensified, and the base was declared taken on Jauary 11, 2013 (the actual date would probably have been late January 10.).
Some material about the attack is compiled here.
Taftanaz has been hit by heavy retaliation:
(added 12/09/2012)
- Google Map marker-list of video-reports of attacks on Taftanaz around August 29, 2012.
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| Left: Su-24 releasing four bombs. Right: dust cloud rising from the explosion(s). Image source: video on TAFTANAZ FREEDOM's YouTube Channel. Uploaded 15/11/2012. |
By November 15, 2012, the use of air-force have been increased. In the frames above an Su-24 drops four bombs on Taftanaz (added 16/11/2012).
Opposition Attack on Abu Ad Duhour Military Air Base:
- Abu Ab Duhuor air-base: reports say that 10 jets were destroyed in an attack on the air-base on the night of August 29th, and that one jet that was shot down as it came to counter attack the opposition forces.
@troublejee: 'primary footage for downed jet [MT]@markito0171#FSA downed MIG-Jet near airbase AbuDulhur base [video-link] ...'
@troublejee: '[MT] vid of wreckage of downed MIG in Edlib today & from last night Air Base attack [video-link]#Syria ...' (
The Abu Ad Duhour airbase was attacked earlier. A video-report uploaded in March 2012 shows an attack with an anti tank missile. I made a study of the attack back then, and I have updated the post with more material, recorded after the attacks/siege on the airbase started in late August.
Video-report of downed MiG-21, September 4th: one more MiG-21 appears to have been shot down in Idlib. Brown Moses Blog has complied more material about the shoot down. (link via @Guardian_Mario, added 05/09/2012).
Aerial attack on Kafr Nabl:
(added 29/09/2012)
- Google Map marker-list: 19 video-reports with short descriptions of an attak on Kafr Nabl. The videos are uploaded on September 27th, and the titles indicate, that the attack took place on that date too.
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region: Hama:
I have not seen any video reports of fighter jets being used against Hama, but seemingly helicopters have used the Jabal Shahshabo area west of Hama city for testing and practicing dropping bombs. It was in this area the first video reports showed large (250 kg) free fall bombs of the OFAB 250-270 model. Also the first video reports of a case of use of cluster munitions came from this area.
For more about this see the relevant sections in the post "Hama"
Update, September 10th: Hama MIlitary Airport:
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| image sources: Left: frame from video. Right: this video. Both uploaded 04/09/2012 to syriasyrias1's YouTube channel. |
I still haven't seen reports of attacks by jets at or around Hama, but Hama military airport is the main airbase in the Central Western part of Syria. I have taken a closer look in the post Hama Military Airport (the linked-to post include an aerial-study that was earlier part of this September 10th update).
Video: MiG-23 with landing gear extended flying over Hama (frame above to the left)
Video: MiG-21 coming towards and past the reporter (frame above to the right)
Update, September 30, 2012: video-reported aerial attack:
Video: MiG-21 making an attack. According to uploader the attack was on the village al-Masoud in the eastern Hama suburbs. Video uploaded September 29th, 2012.
* note: this video is no longer awailable, but here is another video from the same area, and from about the same time.
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region: Homs:
The city of Homs itself is probably the city, that - to date - have been hit the hardest by the government's military. So fare I have found no video reports documenting use of jets against this city, 'only' helicopters and drones. But such reports might still exist and if anyone can send me links it will be appreciated (by late January 2013, sadly, there was no longer any lack of such reports).
This post gives a glimpse of what the city of Homs has suffered (the air-force related part is the section about use of drones).
Rastan:
- The city of Rastan together with Talbiseh was probably the first cites to be subjected to aerial attacks with jets. A series of videos, that came out from these cities on August 23th and the following days, show large explosions and craters that matches bombs like the OFAB 250-270. There are no visible planes in these videos, but some of them have the sound of jets, and as the use of jets have since been clearly documented, the reluctance to take these early reports as evidence have been reduced (for my part anyway).
This post contains a list of videos, said to document air strikes, is in the July 23. update.
Update, October 8, Rastan:
- a 8:50 min video report uploaded October 4, 2012. What appears to be an Su-22 taking 2 runs followed by recordings of a heavy artillery bombardment (see frames below).
Quality of the images makes it hard to be sure, whether this is an Su-22 or a MiG-23, but I think I see ridges on the top side of the wings (frame to the right). That would rule out the MiG-23. Also the general shape of the fuselage and of the tail seems to match the Su-22 better, but these shapes are harder to get a handle on.
The souce videos seems to be from this Rastan channel, and this video is the one with the clearest view of the jet. The original uploads state the date as October 3, 2012, and the location is supported by the two water towers, visible at 7:15 min in the edited video. I was not able to find identifiable landmarks to support the stated location during the two clips with jets. (later note: onward form around this time the Su-17/22 have been a common sight in video-reports)
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| two frames from a 8:50 min video report uploaded 04/10/2012 to Curse Thee YouTube channel. |
Video on another Rastan channel: opposition fighter firing medium/light machingun at an attacking jet. Dated October 3, 2012.
Video on same channel as previous: opposition fighters firing at an attacking jet with a truck mounted NSV 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Same date.
Update, October 15, Talbiseh:
- I have now also seen video-reports from Talbiseh showing aerial attacks by Su-22s.
The frames below are from videos stated to be from October 15. (left) and October 13. (right). In the frame to the left the plane is recorded dropping four bombs.
The combination of variable geometry wings aligned with the underside of the fuselage and "flat" nose to my knowledge makes the identification certain.
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| image sources: Left: frame from video . Right: this video . Both uploaded 13.& 15/10/2012 to talbisa h's YouTube channel. |
It appears that the city is being targeted massively: More videos on the same channel show bombs or shells hitting the city, and also remains of a cluster bomb is being displayed.
Also related to aerial attacks on Talbiseh: Fuel air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh
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region: Damascus / Rif Dimashq:
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| image sources: Left: frame from video . Right: this video . Both uploaded 28/08/2012 to fnnsyrianews's YouTube channel. |
Use of jets against suburbs and surrounding cities like Yabroud and Zabadani also points to an escalation of the violence in and around the capital.
I have listed some videos here, but there are more to be found.
video from al-Ghouta: sound of jet, cut and then smoke cloud.
video from al-Ghouta: a MiG-21 followed by sound of explosion - frame above to the right.
video from al-Ghouta: a MiG-21 followed by sound of explosion - frame above to the right.
video from Zamalka: a jet diving and firing rockets - left frame above.
Video from East Ghouta: an Su-22 passing over head. Uploaded 2/11/2012.
Video from East Ghouta: an Su-22 diving. Flashes - likely from anti aircraft tracer projectiles - and flares releashed. Uploaded 25/10/2012.
Video from Irbin: a MiG-21 passing over head. Uploaded 27/10/2012.
Video from Irbin: a MiG-23 passing over head. Uploaded 18/10/2012.
Video from Qaboun: a jet (possibly an Su-22) passing over head. Uploaded 28/10/2012.
Video from Darayya: a MiG-23 dropping what looks like an ODAB-500 fuel-air bomb. Uploaded 03/12/2012. Date according to uploader: November 30, 2012.
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Video from East Ghouta: an Su-22 passing over head. Uploaded 2/11/2012.
Video from East Ghouta: an Su-22 diving. Flashes - likely from anti aircraft tracer projectiles - and flares releashed. Uploaded 25/10/2012.
Video from Irbin: a MiG-21 passing over head. Uploaded 27/10/2012.
Video from Irbin: a MiG-23 passing over head. Uploaded 18/10/2012.
Video from Qaboun: a jet (possibly an Su-22) passing over head. Uploaded 28/10/2012.
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| Left: a MiG-23 dropping a bomb. Right: the bomb matches a parachute-retarded ODAB-500 fuel-air bomb. Image source: frames from video, uploaded 03/12/2012 to LiveLeak (via @cencio4). |
Video from Darayya: a MiG-23 dropping what looks like an ODAB-500 fuel-air bomb. Uploaded 03/12/2012. Date according to uploader: November 30, 2012.
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region: Daraa:
I haven't followed the development in this area as much as that in the North-Western part of the country. But Daraa was where the first protests were ignited in the beginning of 2011.
The two videos below both show damages that are stated to have been caused by aerial bombardments. I can not say for certain that this is the case, but the crater in the frame to the left is very similar to those caused by large free fall bombs.
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| image sources: Left: frame from this video . Right: from this video. Both were originally found uploaded on 24/08/2012 to Souria2011archives's YouTube Channel, but are now found on other channels. |
video from Daal: large crater in the street [ site of the crater ] (link is to a re-upload with Aleppo as stated location in the title).
video from Daal: people struggling to rescue victims after air strike (this video has since been taken down).
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Some relevant material:
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| The lovcations of the main cities of the regions mentioned in this post. This was by late August 2012, and does not pretend to cover all affected regions and cities, only to help with the understanding of the geography. The red line marks the M5 highway (I originally edited the map for a post pointing to the importance that route places on Central Western cities like Homs, Rastan and Hama). Source for underlying map: Google Maps |
An interactive map with cases of downed aerial vehicles (link added 17/10/2012).
An interactive map of Syrian airbases (not sure if they are all there) (link added 29/09/2012).
This interview (in Russian but readable with Google Translate) with the deputy director for emergence programs for Human Rights Watch Anna Neistat (@AnnaNeistat), seems relevant to understanding the extend and kind of deployment of air-forces by the government. The article also contains a very useful map (link via @Jugend75, added 31/08/2012).
In this blog-post, that springs form recent sightings of shoulder lanuched anti aircraft missiles in opposition hands, New York Times journalist, C.J. Chivers, shares his views - and links to more - on, why the general conditions are working against the government air-force as well as it's army (link added 02/09/2012).
* note: it was a mistake by me to state someone else's motive (note added 06/06/2014).
The blog Luftwaffe A.S has it's focus on ME air-forces, and have a large number of fine SyAAF (Syrian Arab Air Force) posts.
Blog-post with listing of Syrian air-bases and the air-crafts stationed there (before 2011). The post also have links to mapped locations of the bases and to photos of the listed air-craft models. (added 22/02/2013).
Wikipedias list of Syrian Air-force Aircraft Inventory - models and numbers of aircrafts.
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Related posts:
- The Weapons Of The Syrian Air Force
- Update: Cluster Munitions in Syria (ZAB-2.5 incendiary submunitions)
- Syria Unleashes Cluster Bombs on Town, Punishing Civilians
- HD Video of a Syrian Mig-23 attacking Darayya with unguided 500-kg thermobaric bomb
- Fuel-air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh
- Evidence of large unguided Blast Bombs reported from Syria
- Syrian Airforce use of the L-39 Albatros
- all corrections and suggestions are welcome - either as post-comments or @ my twitter acount.
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