The major Syrian coastal city of Latakia was pounded by over an hour of missile strikes, with reports of massive explosions. Syrian air defenses were launched in Latakia and neighboring Tartus, which is the host of a major Russian naval base.
Syrian state media conceded that they had no way of confirming who was attacking, though an early statement from the Syrian Army said it was an Israeli attack that came from inside Lebanese airspace. They claimed two soldiers were killed in the attack.
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, issued an alternate statement saying they’d detected the missile fire as coming from he FS Auvergne, a French naval frigate deployed off the Syrian coast. Four Israeli F-16s were apparently responsible, according to a later Defense Ministry statement.
This is particularly dangerous, as a Russian military surveillance plane was shot down off the Latakia coast. Shooting down a Russian plane during an attack on Syria would be a huge escalation of tensions in the region, whoever did it.
Attacks against Latakia and Tartus are already dangerous enough of an escalation, as Russia has long warned that they would not tolerate attacks near their facilities inside Syria, and this is right in the midst of Russia’s naval base, and near an air field.
I think they need to start enforcing a no fly zone over Lebanon for Israeli attack aircraft. Israel should not be allowed to bomb Syria with impunity it is bad for regional stability and is of course a crime under the UN Charter.
this particular attack was not carried out from Lebanese air space but from the Mediterranean.
the current info seems to point to israelis jets shadowing the i20 to cover their approach from syrian radar.
Which still does not explain what business Israel has in Syria. If they have issues with Hezbollah, they should take it up with Lebanon. Likewise, any issues with Iran should go to the right adress. While everyone was fighting Islamic headchoppers, Israel protected them, supported many groups, and provided medical care.
Israel starts the run in the Mediterranean then launches as they approach the Lebanese border. Lebanese territorial waters need protection.
This was a US and/or Israeli provocation intended to derail the Russia-Turkey deal that canceled the Idlib operation. The US intended to use the Idlib operation as justification to attack Syria. The deal rendered that plan moot, so the US tried to escalate the situation by having Israel and/or France attack near the Russian facilities. I expect that plan will fail because Russia will know precisely who was behind the attack and can certainly guess. They will not fall for it but will measure out an appropriate retaliation down the road. This is how Russia works – their enemies pay at a time of Russia’s choosing.
You are absolutely right that this is provocation.