"MISSILES FROM THE SEA" -- Russian IL-20 Aircraft with 14 Troops aboard "Missing"Possibly hit

Breaking: Massive Sustained Attack On Syria: Russian S-400 Defenses Possibly Active In Huge Escalation

Ron Paul Institute

17 September, 2018

Another attack on Syria has occurred tonight on multiple locations in what is the largest sustained series of what are believed to be Israeli or possibly US air strikes in months. But hugely significant is that early reports suggest Russia's S-400 anti-missile missile defense system engaged the inbound rockets.

On Monday night Syrian state-run SANA confirmed multiple missiles fired "from the sea into Lattakia city" in "an aggression from unknown source" which state media says involved successful intercepts by Syrian missile defense.

British-Syrian journalist Danny Makki, currently reporting from the ground, says the attack "lasted for a total of 1 hour 30 minutes" and missiles soared over four cities including Latakia, Tartus, Homs and Hama — with rockets and explosions lighting up the sky especially over the coastal towns.

Though it appears another Israeli strike - as it came less than two days following an attack near Damascus - the details are still unknown, and some observers are speculating it could be an American attack, given that at least some of the missiles were fired from the sea.

SANA reports "an aggression on Lattakia has targeted the Technical Industries’ establishment" adding that "the air defenses intercepted and downed a number of the missiles".

Multiple journalists in the region further said that Syrian air defenses were activated across four provinces including Latakia and Tartus on the coast, as well as over Homs and Hama which are more inland.

The initial major strike on Latakia, located on the Syrian coast, reportedly targeted a Syrian Scientific Research Center (SSRC) facility, and newly published video and images from Syrian sources show massive fireballs lighting up the sky.

But significantly the location of the strike is in the vicinity of Russia's Hmeymim airbase, and there are early unconfirmed reports that Russia engaged the inbound assault via its advanced S-400 system.

According to the Middle East Institute's Charles Lister, "Reports suggest Russia air defenses in Hmeymim participated in attempting to repel tonight’s strikes in Latakia."

Lister continued, "*IF* that’s true, that’d be a significant development. Some reports also say strikes came from sea; leading to accusations of a U.S naval cruise missile attack."

Unconfirmed local eyewitness accounts say that two hostile aircraft were shot down during the lengthy assault.

A number of videos are circulating on Syrian social media which purport to show successful Syria or Russian missile defense intercepts during the sustained attacks.

Aghiad AL Kheder@aghiad_alkheder

 · 6h

Replying to @aghiad_alkheder

Photos circulating social media claim that these are the parts of the missiles that targeted #Syria’s #Latakia tonight. pic.twitter.com/kufY96LjjV

Aghiad AL Kheder@aghiad_alkheder

The air defenses in #Latakia sky. Assad supporters said there were two planes shot down
No confirmation pic.twitter.com/vDEuZxuLBG

8:54 AM - Sep 18, 2018

• 11
• 16 people are talking about this

As yet, there's been no confirmation of who carried out the attack; however, a report early this month cited Tel Aviv sources who confirmed that Israel's Air Force has conducted 200 attacks on locations inside Syria over the course of the past 2 years alone, according to Reuters.

The major escalation comes just after Russia's Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Monday to announce that a demilitarized zone in the Idlib will be formed by October 15.

Pentagon Says Russian Plane Shot Down By Syrian Defense Responding To Israeli Attac

SYRIA ATTACKED AGAIN - 

 

"MISSILES FROM THE SEA" 

 

-- Russian IL-20 Aircraft 

 

with 14 Troops aboard 

 

"Missing"Possibly hit

 

Syrian Air Defenses firing from Damascus

Syrian air defenses have engaged missiles targeting the area of Latakia, a city in the coastal province that is the home of Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base.  Reports that a Russian IL-20 Aircraft with 14 Troops aboard, is "Missing" after the attack, and may be have gone down in the Mediterranean  (Now confirmed 9:13 PM EDT).

The attack appears to be targeting the Technical Industries Agency headquarters in Latakia, owned by the Syrian military. Reports from the area refer to “powerful explosions” heard in the city.

Air defense activity also reported in Homs and Tartous provinces, where Russia maintains a naval base.

UPDATE: Pentagon tells me the United States was NOT involved in todays attack. (9:04 PM EDT)

Syrian media report that a “number of missiles” have been shot down. Multiple reports from the area speak of an attack by missiles possibly launched from drones.

It is unclear whether only the Syrian air defense batteries have been engaged, or if the Russian air defenses around Khmeimim are taking part as well.  There is a single report that Russian S-400's were launched for the first time to defend Syria during this attack.

The image below shows the Syrian Technical Industries Agency Building in Latakia, smashed and burning:

Multiple local reports are accusing Israel of launching the strikes.  VIDEO from Syria shows impacting missiles :

A Russian IL-20 aircraft appears to have been SHOT DOWN during the attack.  A file photo of that type of aircraft is below:

The US found out about the incident because Syrian forces broadcast an emergency search and rescue radio call on an international frequency.

The US then got a direct message from another country about the type of aircraft and circumstances of the incident. The official who provided this information would not identify that country, but it is likely that Russia is the only nation that would know exactly what type of aircraft was shot down.

UPDATES CONTINUING, Check back . . .

UPDATE - 

 

the strikes on Syria likely came from Israeli air force warplanes using air-to-ground missiles and Israeli Navy merchant ships firing artillery rockets, waiting for confirmation

 MORE:  Numerous local sources report that the Russian S-400 Air Defense System engaged the hostile missiles for the first time.

MORE: Pentagon spokesman Navy Cmdr. Sean Robertson says "I can unequivocally say this is not us."

 

UPDATE: 

 

Russian airspace control says the missile launches came from a French frigate in Mediterranean.

 The French Navy’s newest frigate, FS Auvergne, fired rockets the Russian military says. “

Airspace control detected rocket launches from the French frigate Auvergne,” the ministry’s statement read. The Auvergne is deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Syria.

UPDATE 10:35 PM EDT --

 

Claims in media are saying the Russia IL-20 which was shot down, was hit by "Syrian Air Defenses by accident."   Here's the problem:

All Russian-built missiles are programmed to identify Russian aircraft as "Friendly" and NOT hit them.

Even the old Syrian S-200 is programmed with this feature.  It is a condition of weapons sales.

So the CLAIM being made in media that it was an "accident" seems questionable on its face.

Sources inside Russia tell me that all radar records are being closely reviewed and WILL show whose missile hit that plane.  If it was a missile from the French Frigate or from the Israelis, this could be a game-changing moment in history.

Further Updates to follow, but info is drying up.  What's done is done.  We wait for further details, if any.

Russia detects missile launches from French frigate off Syria’s coast in Mediterranean

RT

17 September, 2018

Russian airspace control systems have registered missile launches from a French frigate in the Mediterranean on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The French Navy’s newest frigate, FS Auvergne, fired rockets around 8pm GMT Monday, the Russian military said. “Airspace control has recorded rocket launches from the French frigate Auvergne,” the ministry’s statement read. The Auvergne is deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Syria.

Russian patrol plane with 14 on board disappears during Israeli strikes on Latakia

Auvergne is a 'European multi-purpose frigate' (FREMM) which entered the service of the French Navy in February this year. Prior to its official commissioning, the Aquitaine class warship witnessed deployment across the globe, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

The launch was detected around the same time as air traffic controllers at the Khmeimim Air Base “lost contact” with a military Il-20 aircraft during an attack of Israeli F-16 fighters on Latakia. Fourteen people were on board the plane at the time of the disappearance. A search and rescue mission is underway.

The IDF has refused to comment on the report. Despite the fact that Israel rarely acknowledges striking specific targets inside Syria, earlier this month the IDF admitted to hitting at least 202 “Iranian targets” in the country.

As tensions over Idlib rise, Turkey and Russia on Monday agreed to establish a “demilitarized zone” between militants and government troops as part of an effort to clear the remaining jihadists from Syria.