Israel strikes Syrian MiG‑23s in aerial offensive
The Israeli air force has released footage from a recent attack on MiG-23 aircraft belonging to the Syrian Air Force. Reports indicate that the Israelis have destroyed three of these Soviet-made machines. There is also footage showing strikes on Mi-8 helicopters and anti-aircraft systems.
Before the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the Syrian Air Force had 30 MiG-29 fighter jets. Additionally, prior to the outbreak of the civil war, their arsenal comprised approximately 150 other aircraft, including MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-22, and Su-24, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. After the offensive against Assad's government commenced, rebels allegedly seized several MiG-23 aircraft stationed at the Neyrab airbase in Aleppo.
Israelis destroyed MiG-23 aircraft
Footage released by the Israeli Armed Forces suggests, however, that the number of aircraft that could fall into the hands of rebels is diminishing. It shows one of the attacks on the MiG-23 stationing area. During this operation, the Israelis reportedly destroyed three such machines. There are also materials from attacks on Mi-8 helicopters and anti-aircraft systems that previously 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 to fulfil the need for a fast, multifunctional aircraft capable of effectively operating 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 (approximately 2,494 kilometres per hour). Equipped with an RP-23 Sapfir radar and advanced weapons 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. The machine proved relatively difficult to pilot, but its versatility and long range (up to 2,494 kilometres with additional fuel tanks) meant it was 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 aid to Middle Eastern countries. During this time, Moscow actively supported Syria, viewing 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.
