Syria missile strikes (September 2018) explained

Syria missile strikes (September 2018)
Partof:Iran–Israel conflict, and Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war
Location:Latakia, Tartus and Homs Governorates, Syria
Planned By: Israel
Outcome:
  • Russia delivers S-300 Surface to Air Missile to Syrian Arab Air force[1]
  • Russia to start jamming radar and satellite signals of planes that attack Syrian territory from the Mediterranean[2]
Casualties: 2 Syrian soldiers killed[3]
15 Russian servicemen killed[4] About 10 injured[5]

On 17 September 2018, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted missile strikes against multiple targets in government-controlled western Syria. Syrian air defences responded to the Israeli fighter jets, accidentally shooting a Russian military Il-20, killing 15 crew aboard.[6] Russia blamed Israel for the loss of its plane, accusing the IAF of "hiding behind the Russian aircraft", thereby putting it in the line of fire.[7] The Israel Defense Forces accepted responsibility for the airstrikes the following day, but expressed sorrow regarding the loss of a Russian plane.[8] [9] The strikes occurred a few hours after a Russo-Turkish agreement to create a demilitarized zone around Idlib Governorate was achieved, which postponed an imminent offensive operation by Syria's forces and its allies.[10]

Airstrikes

At approximately 22:00 (local time), a large number of missiles struck the Latakia, Tartus and Homs governorates of western Syria. According to the Russian MoD's detailed report presented on 23 September, the attack began at 21:40 and involved four F-16 fighter jets launching GBU-39 bombs at industrial sites in Latakia.

Missiles hit the Institute of Technological Industries, a subsidiary of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, in the outskirts of Latakia;[11] [12] the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the missiles targeted ammunition depots there.[5] Two people were killed and ten injured.[5] Following the strikes, released satellite images showed a destroyed ammunition warehouse.

Russian aircraft shot down

During Israel's attack — at 22:02:45, according to the Russian defence ministry[13] [14] [15] — an Il-20 ELINT reconnaissance plane returning to Khmeimim Air Base, with 15 Russian servicemen on board, was hit by a Syrian S-200 surface-to-air missile 35 km from the Syrian coast.[16] [17] The Russian military received a one-minute warning prior to the attack, which it said was not enough time to get the Il-20 out of the way.[18] The plane's sign disappeared from radars at 22:07. Russian officials initially said that the French frigate Auvergne launched missiles during the strikes in addition to those fired from the Israeli F-16s.[19] [11] France denied any involvement.[20]

The following day, Russia's defence minister Sergey Shoygu said the Russian plane had been hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire, but, nevertheless, blamed Israel's military for the accident. According to Russia, Israeli planes "hid behind" the Russian plane, placing it in the line of Syrian anti-aircraft fire.[7] The Russian military also said it only received one minute's warning from Israel about the impending missile strikes and the four Israeli F-16 jets that conducted the strikes deliberately used the Russian plane as cover to allow them to approach their targets on the ground without being hit by Syrian fire.[21] [22] President Vladimir Putin later said that the MoD's statement on the incident had been fully cleared with him.[23]

According to the Israeli military, the Israeli jets were already in Israeli airspace when the Il-20 was shot down.[24] According to Israel, the Syrian government is fully responsible for the missile fire, however Israel offered its condolences to Russia for the death of the crew.[25] According to the IDF spokesperson "The Syrian anti-aircraft batteries fired indiscriminately and, from what we understand, did not bother to ensure that no Russian planes were in the air", further adding that "The extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft missile fire caused the Russian plane to be hit".[26]

The Israeli investigation, presented to Russian officials as well, concluded that a number of different Syrian SAM batteries fired dozens of missiles over a time span of approximately 40 minutes, well after the Israeli jets returned to their base. According to the Israeli investigation, Syrian missile fire was towards multiple directions – east inland, west to the sea, and southwards to Lebanon. According to the Israeli investigation, such Syrian use of "wild" missile fire of dozens of missiles, has become prevalent since the shoot-down of an Israeli F-16I in February 2018 and peaked in Operation House of Cards where some 170 missiles were launched at Israeli jets.[27]

On 18 September, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret and told Russian president Vladimir Putin that Syrian forces were to blame for the downing.[28] Putin described the incident as a "tragic chance events," appearing to downplay tensions with Israel.[29]

On 23 September 2018, the Russian defence ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov re-affirmed the ministry's earlier accusations of the Israeli military as the ″sole" culprit of the accident and presented a detailed account of the chain of events that led to the shootdown; he noted that all the Israeli fighter jets remained off the coast of Latakia after the shootdown and left the area at 22:40.[30] [31] [13]

Aftermath

On 18 September, Russia summoned the Israeli envoy to Moscow to account for the incident.[32]

On 24 September, defense minister Sergei Shoigu said that within two weeks, the Syrian army would receive S-300 air-defense missile systems to strengthen Syria's combat air defence capabilities. He added that the previous cancellation of the contract for S-300 delivery in 2013 had been due to Israel's request but following the downing of a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft in Syria the situation had changed.[33] [34] The S-300 would have modern IFF systems, which will prevent the missiles from targeting Russian aircraft.[35] He also announced a few other military measures Russia would undertake to protect Russian service members in Syria. Russian president Vladimir Putin informed Syrian president Bashar Assad of the planned delivery in a telephone conversation the same day.[36]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Russia to send newer, S-300 missile defense systems to Syria. . 24 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180924135854/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-says-will-send-newer-s-300-missile-systems-to-syria/2018/09/24/fe22327a-bfdd-11e8-9f4f-a1b7af255aa5_story.html. 24 September 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: Russia to upgrade Syria's air defence systems after fatal downing of military aircraft. 24 September 2018 . 24 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180924174106/https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/russia-to-upgrade-syria-s-air-defence-systems-after-fatal-downing-of-military-aircraft-1.773432. 24 September 2018. live.
  3. Web site: Two soldiers killed in the violent missile attacks on the eastern outskirts of Latakia's suburbs. 18 September 2018 . 18 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190325214938/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=102779. 25 March 2019. live.
  4. Web site: Syria shot down Russian military reconnaissance plane, admits Kremlin. . 18 September 2018 . 18 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918125145/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/russia-plane-shot-down-syria-accident-france-israel-war-us-kremlin-a8542401.html. 18 September 2018. live.
  5. News: Syrian air defences intercept missiles fired at Latakia – state media . 18 September 2018 . Reuters . https://web.archive.org/web/20180917232435/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-attack/syrian-air-defences-down-missiles-fired-at-city-of-latakia-state-media-idUKKCN1LX2BS . 17 September 2018 . live .
  6. News: Holmes . Oliver . Roth . Andrew . 18 September 2018 . Moscow blames Israel after Syria shoots down Russian military plane . .
  7. Web site: Russian Surveillance Plane Accidentally Shot Down By Syrian Forces, Moscow Says. Scott. Neuman. 18 September 2018. NPR.
  8. Web site: Gross . Judah Ari . 18 September 2018 . In rare move, IDF admits Syria strike, expresses sorrow over Russian plane . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919115950/https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-rare-move-idf-admits-syria-strike-expresses-sorrow-over-russian-plane/ . 19 September 2018 . 18 September 2018 . The Times of israel.
  9. News: Russia blames Israel for friendly fire attack on its aircraft by Syria which killed 15 servicemen. Josie. Ensor. Alec. Luhn. The Telegraph . 18 September 2018. www.telegraph.co.uk. 21 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180921011912/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/18/russianmilitaryjetvanishes-radar-syria/. 21 September 2018. live.
  10. Web site: Heintz . Jim . El Deeb . Sarah . 17 September 2018 . Russia, Turkey to create demilitarized zone for Syria's Idlib . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180917212730/https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2018/09/17/russia-turkey-to-create-demilitarized-zone-for-syrias-idlib/ . 17 September 2018 . 18 September 2018 . Military Times.
  11. Web site: Karam . Joyce . 2018-09-19 . Russian military jet carrying 14 servicemen vanishes off radar . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921191025/https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/russian-military-jet-carrying-14-servicemen-vanishes-off-radar-1.771279 . 21 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The National . en.
  12. Web site: Gross . Judah Ari . 18 September 2018 . Russia blames Israel after Syria downs plane while trying to repel attack . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921192729/https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-blames-israel-after-syria-downs-plane-while-trying-to-repel-attack/ . 21 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . Times of Israel . en-US.
  13. Web site: Минобороны представило данные с радара С-400, доказывающие вину ВВС Израиля в гибели Ил-20 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014400/https://tass.ru/politika/5599321 . 26 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . TACC.
  14. Web site: Минобороны РФ предоставило факты, указывающие на вину Израиля в крушении Ил-20 в Сирии . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924033639/https://tass.ru/politika/5594599 . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . TACC.
  15. Web site: Petrov . Ivan . 2018-09-23 . Российские военные возложили вину за гибель самолета Ил-20 на Израиль . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924073618/https://rg.ru/2018/09/23/rossijskie-voennye-vozlozhili-vinu-za-gibel-samoleta-il-20-na-izrail.html . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . Российская газета.
  16. Web site: Trevithick . Joseph . Rogoway . Tyler . 2018-09-17 . Russian IL-20 Surveillance Plane Went Down Off Syrian Coast During Israeli Missile Barrage (Updated) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122848/http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/23655/russian-il-20-surveillance-plane-went-down-off-syrian-coast-during-israeli-missile-barrage . 20 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The Drive . en.
  17. Web site: Russia blames Israel for ‘aircraft loss in crossfire’ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921094926/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/russia-military-jet-vanishes-radar-syria-14-aboard-180918045210361.html . 21 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . Al Jazeera . en.
  18. News: 2018-09-18 . Russian aircrew deaths: Putin and Netanyahu defuse tension . en-GB . BBC News . live . 2023-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919182437/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45563304 . 19 September 2018.
  19. Web site: Suchkov . Maxim A. . 20 September 2018 . Plane shot down over Syria puts Russia-Israel relations to the test . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920081354/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/09/russia-israel-syria-downed-plane.html . 20 September 2018 . Al-Monitor.
  20. News: Irish . John . 2018-09-18 . Russian 'fake news' machine going mad, says French envoy to U.S. . en . Reuters . Thomas . Leigh . live . 2023-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180918222822/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-france/russian-fake-news-machine-going-mad-says-french-envoy-to-u-s-idUSKCN1LY2C4 . 18 September 2018.
  21. Web site: Шойгу: Россия не оставит без ответа действия Израиля, приведшие к гибели экипажа Ил-20 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919122855/https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5577665 . 19 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . TACC.
  22. News: Korsunskaya . Darya . Farrell . Stephen . 2018-09-18 . Putin sees chance circumstances behind downing of Russian plane off Syrian coast . en . Reuters . live . 2023-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180918220524/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia/russia-says-a-military-aircraft-vanishes-near-syria-during-israeli-french-strikes-idUSKCN1LY057 . 18 September 2018.
  23. Web site: 2018-09-18 . Путин успокоил: ситуация с Израилем из-за сбитого Ил-20 не такая кризисная, как с Турцией из-за сбитого Су-24 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924033553/https://www.newsru.com/russia/18sep2018/il20_putin_su24.html . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . NEWSru.com . ru.
  24. Web site: Finkel . Gal Perl . 6 October 2018 . Don't 'poke the bear' in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181007044638/https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Dont-poke-the-bear-in-Syria-568798 . 7 October 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The Jerusalem Post . en-US.
  25. Web site: Sharman . Jon . 2018-09-18 . Syria shot down Russian military reconnaissance plane, admits Kremlin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180918125145/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/russia-plane-shot-down-syria-accident-france-israel-war-us-kremlin-a8542401.html . 18 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The Independent . en.
  26. Web site: Ahronheim . Anna . Keinon . Herb . 19 September 2018 . Satellite images show results of Israel’s strike in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122555/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-works-to-stem-crisis-with-Moscow-after-downing-of-Russian-plane-567536 . 20 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The Jerusalem Post . en-US.
  27. News: Zitun . Yoav . 2018-09-21 . IDF presents Syrian attack report in Moscow . en . Ynetnews . live . 2023-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180922101835/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5355211,00.html . 22 September 2018.
  28. News: Lewis . Ori . 2018-09-18 . Netanyahu tells Putin Syria is to blame for downing of Russian plane, offers help with inquiry . en . Reuters . Heinrich . Mark . live . 2023-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919211137/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-netanyahu-putin/netanyahu-tells-putin-syria-is-to-blame-for-downing-of-russian-plane-offers-help-with-inquiry-idUSKCN1LY2CU?il=0 . 19 September 2018.
  29. Web site: Loveluck . Louisa . Ferris-Rotman . Amie . 18 September 2018 . Putin blames downing of Russian plane in Syria on ‘tragic chance events,’ plays down Israeli culpability . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919015242/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2018/09/18/putin-blames-downing-russian-plane-syria-tragic-chance-events-plays-down-israeli-culpability/qVLNKUIP21vlfzrPMdHwyM/story.html . September 19, 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The Boston Globe . en-US.
  30. Web site: Israeli Air Force solely to blame for Il-20 crash — Russian Defense Ministry . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924033550/http://tass.com/politics/1022770 . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . TASS.
  31. Web site: Russian Defence Ministry held a special briefing on curcumstances of the Russian Il-20 aircraft crash near the Syrian coast . Russian Defence Ministry . 23 September 2018 . 25 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180925142356/http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12196560@egNews . 25 September 2018 . live .
  32. News: Russia: Syrian missiles shot down Russian aircraft in crossfire. Al-Jazeera.
  33. Web site: Гутенев: реакция Израиля на инцидент с Ил-20 вынудила РФ на поставки С-300 в Сирию . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924161751/https://tass.ru/politika/5597868 . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . TACC.
  34. Web site: 2018-09-24 . Россия передаст Сирии С-300 в течение двух недель . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924113904/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3751224 . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . Kommersant . ru.
  35. News: Syria to get Russia's S-300 air-defense missile system within two weeks . TASS . 24 September 2018 . 25 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924131847/http://tass.com/defense/1022844 . 24 September 2018 . live .
  36. Web site: Путин обсудил с Асадом поставки российских комплексов С-300 в Сирию . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924125629/https://tass.ru/politika/5597646 . 24 September 2018 . 2023-04-19 . TACC.

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