Reports: Syrian Su-22 “Shot Down” Down Near Idlib, Pilot Reported as Ejected.

A file photo of Syrian Su-22 (via RT) and photos of what is claimed to be a Syrian Su-22 shot down surfaced across Twitter early today. (via Twitter)

Syrian Insurgents Claim Aircraft Was Shot Down Just After Take-Off.

Reports surfacing across international media say that the Syrian insurgent group Tahrir al-Sham has shot down a Syrian Arab Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 attack aircraft. Some reports claim the pilot, reported as a “Colonel” on Twitter, has been captured. Photos shared on Twitter show aircraft wreckage along with a pilot’s helmet, parachute and life support equipment. The Syrian government has not issued a statement about the incident.

No photos or identity of the pilot have surfaced on social media or through news outlets yet.

According to a story in the Jerusalem Post, “Tahrir al-Sham’s statement did not say how the plane had been shot down. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said heavy machine guns had been used.”

The shoot-down comes after a period of increased air attacks in the region. A report published today, August 14, 2019, by the Syrian media outlet Muraselon.com said that, “Over the last 12 hours, the Syrian Air Force has been conducting interdiction strikes against militant groups north of the current Syrian Army line of advance towards Khan Sheykhun.”

The report published this morning local time by Muraselon went on to say, “Beginning last night and lasting until recent hours, the Syrian Air Force was once again engaged in a high-tempo operation with warplanes scrambling to launch strikes on insurgent rallying areas across the southern countryside of Idlib province. The Syrian Air Force engaged militant movements and gatherings in and around the towns of Madaya, Kafr Sajna, Jabala, Baskala, Has and Kafr Ruma. Located north of the current Syrian Army line of advance on the axis of Al-Hobait towards Khan Sheykhun, these towns are reportedly being used by militant factions as rally areas in preparation for a suspected counter-attack.”

The Sukhoi Su-22, NATO codename “Fitter”, is a large, single-engine, single-seat ground attack aircraft with variable geometry “swing” wings. It first flew in 1966 and entered service in 1970. Since then the Su-22 has gone into service with the former Soviet Union, Angola, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Peru, Poland, Syria, Vietnam and Yemen.



About Tom Demerly
Tom Demerly is a feature writer, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles that are published around the world on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside magazine, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russia’s government media outlet Sputnik, and many other publications. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. His military experience includes being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company “F”, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). Demerly is an experienced parachutist, holds advanced SCUBA certifications, has climbed the highest mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown several types of light aircraft.