Israel Enters the Fray: Two Fighter Jets Attack Airbase, Syrian Air Defenses Parry Missile Salvo
We're continuing to monitor the events of this Monday. Two Israel F-15 fighters delivered a rocket strike against the T4 airfield According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the attack was carried out from the Lebanese airspace. The aircraft fired а total of eight missiles. The Syrian AA-systems fired back and destroyed five guided missiles. No Russian specialists working in Syria were injured. However, 14 soldiers of the Syrian Army suffered injuries.
The data was shared by the local media. Tel Aviv hasn't yet commented on the situation.
Sergey Pashkov with the details.
Israeli political leadership and defense officials stick to their traditional strategy abstaining from confirming, denying, or commenting on the fact that their Air Force raided and attacked the Syrian T4 airfield. The information was reported by the Middle Eastern media and confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to the reports, at 3:30 — 4:00 a.m. an Israeli F-15 fighter flight of two aircraft fired air-to-ground missiles at the targets on the Syrian territory. Out of 8 fired missiles, 5 were destroyed mid-air by the Syrian AA-systems. 3 missiles reached their target in the western part of the T4 airfield located in the Homs governorate not far away from Palmyra. According to the Iranian and Syrian sources, 14 soldiers were killed and many injured. Besides, according to the reports, the air-raid killed 3 soldiers of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps who had been serving as advisers at the T4 airfield.
The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that none of the Russian military advisers serving in Syria were injured during the night air-raid. Lately, the T4 airfield suffered two attacks carried out by the Israeli Air Force.
The previous attack happened on February 10. According to the local Iranian media, a combat reconnaissance drone of Iranian origin crossed the Israeli border and was destroyed by an Israeli Apache helicopter. The Israeli Air Force was put on high alert and attacked several targets across Syria. Syrian AA-systems fired back and damaged one of the Israeli combat aircraft. It went down on the Israeli territory, two pilots catapulted were injured but survived.
For the first time in many years the Israeli political leadership and, first of all, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that the Israeli Air Force attacked targets situated on the Syrian territory. It's worth mentioning that the Israeli leadership is using the same strategy now refusing to comment on the air-raid. The Russian Defense Ministry commented on the issue in order to erase all doubts on who was responsible for the night attack on the T4 airbase. Previously, some assumed that the US or French Air Force could have raided the airfield but their official representatives said they had nothing to do with the air strikes delivered against the Syrian T4 airfield.
Sergey Pashkov Vesti: Middle Eastern Office.