Breaking:
Massive Sustained Attack On Syria: Russian S-400 Defenses Possibly
Active In Huge Escalation
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.
Photos circulating social media claim that these are the parts of the missiles that targeted #Syria’s #Latakia tonight. pic.twitter.com/kufY96LjjV
The air defenses in #Latakia sky. Assad supporters said there were two planes shot down
No confirmation pic.twitter.com/vDEuZxuLBG
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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