Syrian/Iraq air war and conflict

[page_verify]

Some came all the way through the English Channel and down the Med, others over Iran and Iraq, then there was the botched attempt by Russia to forward deploy its larger aircraft in Iran.

[T_J]

Some came all the way through the English Channel and down the Med, others over Iran and Iraq, then there was the botched attempt by Russia to forward deploy its larger aircraft in Iran.

Not down the English Channel. You are thinking of the strategic bomber missions through the Strait of Gibraltar. They took the Atlantic route down off the coast of Ireland. None of those bombers took the North Sea/English Channel route.

[T_J]

Just an idle thought. Syria has no border with Russia. Which route did the Russian a/c based in Syria take to get there please?

Iran and Iraq gave overflight permission. Iran and Iraq also gave overflight permission for strategic bombers, air launched cruise missiles and Caspian Sea Fleet ship launched cruise missiles.

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Thanks for the correction T_J, I knew they took a very long route but didn't realise it was that route, although now I seem to remember the UK QRA forces having long days on those days.

[T_J]

Thanks for the correction T_J, I knew they took a very long route but didn't realise it was that route, although now I seem to remember the UK QRA forces having long days on those days.

No problem.

[22A]

Breaking news on Russia Today (Sky 512); US led coalition aircraft have shot down a Syrian fighter and it's pilot is now missing.

[MRTT]

F/A-18E and Su-22, apparently.

[dinger]

A VFA-31 Tomcatters jet from the Bush and Carrier Air Wing 8 apparently.

Dinger.

[welshandy]

BBC reports Syrian SU22 had dropped Bombs on US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40322666

[bizfreeq]

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/n ... rd%20Brief

[Vulcanone]

Some statements from Syria..

https://news.usni.org/2017/06/18/navy-s ... ear-raqqah

T

[22A]

Now the Russians have announced coalition a/c may be targeted, Australia has suspended it's airstrikes on Syria. I read that the Aussies have been flying over Iraq as well as Syria.
Where are they operating from? My wife suggested Akrotiri or somewhere in Saudi or Oman.
Which route would they have flown from Australia to their operating base?

[EGDR]

The Australian AF's main base has been Al Minhad in the UAE.

[22A]

Russia Today now reporting the US has shot down a Syrian drone, the third aircraft the Americans have shot down this month.
For their part the Americans claim the drone was showing hostile intent.

[welshandy]

According to BBC it was a Iranian made Drone & was shot down by an F15E.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40344534

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For their part the Americans claim the drone was showing hostile intent.

I'm probably the last to ever defend the Americans, but I'm not sure we know enough to say whether their recent activities are hostile intent or defensive actions? And there lies the problem with propaganda.

[Sparts99]

I've just read that hours after the Su-22 shootdown Iran launched a missile strike against ISIS in Syria.

http://www.atimes.com/article/five-take ... ike-syria/

If this is right it's a further layer of complexity to the whole situation.

[22A]

Two foreign news stations have reported that Israel launched a strike against Syria in retaliation for a projectile landing in Syrian held Golan. This was their fourth strike of the week.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/ ... stray-fire
An Israeli military spokeswoman said a mortar round had hit open ground in the Israeli-controlled zone of the plateau and "forces responded and targeted the Syrian army position that fired the mortar."
On Sunday Israel hit "two artillery positions and an ammunitions truck belonging to the Syrian regime," and the army ordered Israelis to keep away from open areas near the ceasefire line.
The day before, Israeli aircraft hit two Syrian army tanks and what Israel said was a machinegun position, after 10 projectiles from Syrian internal conflict fell in the Israeli-held zone.

[22A]

It's ongoing. Saturday 1st July reports of a Syrian tank attacked by an Israeli 'plane.

[22A]

Expanding this thread. Al Jazeera news yesterday reported US drones had carried out a strike in Somalis against ISIL.
When the news broke about the missile fired from Yemen towards saudi, Europe today (an English language French station) and Al Jazeera both reported it a full hour before BBC or Sky News.
One "studio expert" suggested that having come under attack themselves, Saudi may now stop bombing Yemen. Personally, I think the opposite will happen.