Israeli Air Force takes out Syrian MiG‑23s in bold strikes
The Israeli Air Force has released footage from its latest attack on MiG-23 aircraft belonging to the Syrian Air Force. Reports suggest that the Israelis have destroyed three of these Soviet-made aircraft. Additionally, there is footage showing strikes on Mi-8 helicopters and anti-aircraft systems.
9:44 AM EST, December 13, 2024
Before the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the Syrian Air Force operated 30 MiG-29 fighter jets. Prior to the outbreak of the civil war, their arsenal included approximately 150 other aircraft, such as MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Su-22s, and Su-24s, according to The Jerusalem Post. After the offensive against Assad's government began, rebels allegedly seized several MiG-23 aircraft stationed at the Neyrab airbase in Aleppo.
Israelis destroy MiG-23 aircraft
Footage released by the Israeli Armed Forces suggests that the number of aircraft potentially falling into the hands of rebels is decreasing. It shows one of the attacks on the MiG-23 holding area. During this operation, the Israelis reportedly destroyed three such aircraft. Additionally, there are materials depicting attacks on Mi-8 helicopters and anti-aircraft systems, which once belonged to the Syrian armed forces.
The MiG-23 (NATO code name: Flogger) is a Soviet single-engine jet fighter with variable-sweep wings, developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was designed in response to the need for a fast, multifunctional aircraft capable of operating effectively both as an interceptor and a strike aircraft.
The aircraft is powered by an R-35-300 turbofan engine, allowing it to reach speeds over Mach 2.35 (about 1,550 mph). Equipped with an RP-23 Sapfir radar and advanced weapon systems for its time, the MiG-23 can carry a wide array of missiles, from air-to-air missiles like the R-23 and R-60 to bombs and unguided rockets. Although the aircraft turned out to be relatively difficult to pilot, its versatility and long range (up to 1,550 miles with additional fuel tanks) made it widely exported to Warsaw Pact countries and Soviet allies.
Syria became one of the key recipients of Soviet weaponry during the Cold War. The MiG-23 was delivered to the Syrian Air Force in the 1970s and 1980s as part of the USSR's military support for Middle Eastern countries. During this era, Moscow actively supported Syria, seeing it as a counterbalance to Western allies such as Israel. In the hands of Syrian pilots, the MiG-23 played a significant role in conflicts with Israel, including during the Lebanon War in 1982. However, these aircraft often faced opponents with more technologically advanced machines, such as the Israeli F-15 and F-16, which sometimes limited their combat effectiveness.
