Assad deploys Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer attack planes to hit rebels hard

Located between Aleppo and Idlib, Taftanaz is a major airbase in the northwest of Syria used to launch fighter jets and helicopter gunships against the rebel positions.

A fierce fighting is currently taking place at Taftanaz to liberate the key airfield, an assault that loyalists are trying to counter with Su-24 Fencer attack planes.

The Russian Sukhoi of the Syrian Arab Air Force can be seen jinking a bit during a medium/high level attack with four free fall dumb bombs released at the same time.

Believed to be based at Tiyas with the 819 Squadron, the 20 Su-24 Fencer bombers reportedly in service with the SyAAF are among the most deadly aircraft in the hands of Assad.

They were rarely seen so far, most probably to prevent them from being downed by the rebels (or because they mainly operated at high altitude).

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About David Cenciotti

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.