Videos Surface of U.S. A-10s Flying Over Deir Al Zor Amid Syrian Army Clashes with SDF Forces

Published on: December 3, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Screenshots from the videos of the A-10s reportedly operating over eastern Syria.

Clips featuring U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthogs are circulating online, allegedly confirming their rumored involvement in Syria.

The situation in Syria is quite dynamic. As you already know by now, on Nov. 27, 2024, Sunni rebel groups opposing the government of President Bashar al-Assad, led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), launched a surprise offensive that captured large parts of Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city. They’ve also started pushing into nearby Hama.

The fighting has triggered a brutal response, with Syrian and Russian jets striking rebel positions.

According to the unconfirmed reports dated Dec. 1, 2024, around al-Mayadin, in the eastern part of the country, a key area linking Syria and Iraq, U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II jets carried out intense strikes on militia targets, including bases, vehicles, and ammo depots.

In that area, the Syrian army and allied forces faced attacks launched by forces affiliated with the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), a Kurdish-led alliance in north and east Syria which worked with the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. Around 900 U.S. troops are deployed in the areas controlled by SDF.

At same time, Kurdish forces, backed by the U.S. supporting the SDF, took aim at Iranian-backed militias to create a safe passage for civilians escaping Aleppo’s violence and to shield at-risk groups like Christians. In order to achieve such goal, the Kurds intensified artillery fire across the Euphrates, hitting militia positions with coordination from U.S. airstrikes.

Further reports suggested attacks in the area of Deir Al Zor were highly destructive, with initial figures pointing to over 50 casualties.

On Dec. 2, 2024, we reached out to both U.S. Central Command, to have confirmation and further details about the involvement of the A-10s in Syria. At the time of writing, we haven’t received any response from U.S. CENTCOM yet.

However, on Dec. 3, clips began circulating online showing Warthogs flying at low altitude, maneuvering, and releasing flares, reportedly over Deir Al Zor. While we cannot independently verify the footage, we have found so far no evidence to suggest that the videos are not authentic or were filmed elsewhere, making it likely they are recent and from eastern Syria.

The latest videos came a few weeks after other footage, once again allegedly filmed in Syria, was posted online showing U.S. Air Force A-10s at work against Iranian proxies in the northeastern part of the country.

While some reports on social media suggest the A-10s depicted in the videos are from the 107th Fighter Squadron from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, (that indeed deployed to the CENTCOM Area Of Responsibility at the beginning of October), also the 74th Fighter Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, deployed to the Middle East via NAS Rota in September.

U.S. Air Force maintainers assigned to the 107th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron perform post-flight maintenance on an A-10C Thunderbolt II within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 6, 2024. Maintainers are essential for keeping aircraft in top condition, ensuring readiness for combat missions. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The backdrop to this escalation includes ongoing attacks by pro-Iranian militias on U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq. Since October 2023, these militias have launched hundreds of rockets and drones, killing three and injuring dozens of U.S. personnel.

On Nov. 11, 2024, the U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted strikes against nine targets in two locations associated with Iranian groups in Syria in response to several attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria.

A CENTCOM release for the first time acknowledged attacks on American forces by Iranian-supported militias, said:

These strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations.

“Our message is clear. Attacks against U.S. and coalition partners in the region will not be tolerated,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander. “We will continue to take every step necessary to protect our personnel and coalition partners and respond to reckless attacks.”

On the following day, U.S. attacked a “weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility” in Syria in response to an attack on U.S. troops at Patrol Base Shaddadi.

The Pentagon’s recent airstrikes are part of its broader strategy to counter these militias while keeping ISIS suppressed. In this volatile mix, the U.S. is walking a tightrope, seeking to support allies like the Kurds and protect its personnel without being drawn further into Syria’s broader civil war.

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II taxis within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 6, 2024. The A-10 is equipped with a 30mm rotary cannon, capable of firing up to 3,900 rounds per minute. It also has the ability to carry a variety of other weapons, including rockets and bombs. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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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.
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