Syrian/Iraq air war and conflict

[Gary]

It's in the Daily Mail so take it with a pinch of salt. But Air Cdre Stringer has indicated the RAF could start the draw down of anti Daesh ops in the next 4 months http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -ISIS.html

Not good news for the TGRF with an estimated 17 months left especially with the news Warton successfully test fired a Brimstone earlier this year from a Typhoon

[Blackcat1]

Listening to the daily fail, the world will be a safer place soon!

[MRTT]

Appears the Belgian F-16s will be returning home on the 26th December after eighteen months in the Middle East.

[22A]

Expanding this thread geographically if I may.
The Pentagon had admitted it's carried out 120 air strikes on Yemen this year. They also have ground troops there to assist the Saudis.
https://forwardobserver.com/2017/12/pen ... -in-yemen/
All the while so many people and nations have been complaining about Saudi air strikes with British built aircraft and weapons. Will the Americans now be castigated?

[colt99]

Don't know the credibility of this post, just found it on Twitter, posted yesterday

Boris Zilberman‏
Verified account

@rolltidebmz
Follow
Follow @rolltidebmz

More
! Mortar fire at Russia's Syrian air base (Khmeimim) results in destruction of four Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S and one An-72 military transport aircraft. 10 soldiers injured.

[Gary]

BBC news have a few photos of the damage http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42580378

[22A]

Reported on Al Jazeera this morning; "Russia's airbase in Syria has come under attack for the second time this week".

[22A]

Saturday 70 Turkish a/c carried out an airstrike on Kurdish areas of Syria. All reported RTB. The Russians have moved out any troops they had in that area of Syria.

Two similar questions (probably for those with technical legal knowledge).
The Americans regard the Kurds as friends. If America retaliated against Turkey, as both are NATO nations do we all get dragged in and if so , on the side of the attacked nation as per treaty, or the more powerful state?
If however the Syrians retaliated against Turkey, would all NATO nations be compelled to fight against Syria?

[Parrafin budgie]

Been going on for years, while on operation northern watch protecting the Kurds. The Turkish were bombing the Kurds behind the NATO/UN force.

[MRTT]

Appears that a Russian Su-25 has been shot down close to Idlib, post on Twitter suggests that the pilot ejected but was killed.

Now being reported by BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle- ... ws_central

[Gary]

Video posted on Twitter shows an engine on fire before it crashes https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/statu ... 8000293888

Sadly photos on Twitter if authentic also shows the pilot dead as reported

Expect Russia to go on an epic bombing campaign

[MRTT]

Turkish Land Forces A-129 ATAK has been downed over Syria, confirmed by President Erdogan.

Reports on various social media accounts seem to suggest that both crew members were killed.

[22A]

Changing through the various TV news channels this morning, they were all announcing the shooting down of an Israeli aircraft. The how & why differed through the broadcasters.
According to Al Jazeera, the Israelis shot down an Iranian drone launched in Syria. Syria's air defences opened up and claim to have "hit several aircraft". A F16 was shot down and the pilots (note the plural) were seen to eject. Sky & BBC reported the F16 crashed in Israel after being fired on.
Only now, six hours later does the ticker tape also report "a Turkish helicopter was shot down by Kurdish forces over the Syrian border.

[22A]

Will we ever know the full truth? One channel is announcing the F16 was hit over Damascus, but it crashed in Northern Israel and the pilot was severely injured.

If the pilot was injured and still nursed a stricken a/c back home, he'll presumably receive a significant decoration?

[bizfreeq]

He was injured during the ejection according to a BBC report

[T_J]

At least 4 PAK-FA (T-50) Su-57s have been noted landing in Syria.



https://twitter.com/WaelAlHussaini/stat ... 1308248065

https://twitter.com/WaelAlHussaini/stat ... 7723319296

[T_J]

Only two PAK-FA were deployed. The Russian Defence Minister has announced that the two Su-57/PAK-FAs deployed to Syria have now returned to Russia.

"MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Two Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jets have successfully completed a two-day program of tests in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told reporters on Thursday.

"Indeed, they were there for a while. Two days. During that time, they completed a program of trials, including combat ones," Shoigu said. "I can say that the trials were success and the planes returned home a week ago."

http://tass.com/defense/992335

[MRTT]

Large escalation in the region over the past couple of days, not entirely sure whether it's something to worry about.

[Supra]

Not really! One could easily worry oneself to death?
WW-3 or a Heart Attack = the same outcome.
Just don't waste your time decorating the house for a while, just in case?

[Reach1985]

I'd say decorating was an excellent way to sooth any anxieties about WW-3! :-)