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.
NEW – US airstrikes & A-10 strafing runs reported against #Iran proxy militia positions in al-Mayadin in eastern #Syria tonight.
Heavy casualties reported. Multiple ambulances raced to the scene.
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) December 1, 2024
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.
Over 50 Iranian-Backed Militants were killed, and at least a dozen Military Trucks and Technicals were destroyed yesterday in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate of Eastern Syria, after a Convoy entering from Iraq was targeted by several A-10 “Warthog” Close-Air Support Attack Aircraft…
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 2, 2024
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.
WATCH 🚨
America enters the Syria chat!
A U.S. A-10C “Warthog” spotted near Deir Ezzor, supporting SDF advances against Assad and Iranian-backed forces along the Euphrates. pic.twitter.com/KVIBg7wWb7
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 3, 2024
Close air support by US planes against Iranian/Assad positions in the Khsham pocket, Deir Ezzor, Syria.
It seems to be an A-10 pounding the elevated positions overlooking this area, possibly here:
35°21’09″N 40°12’08″E
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) December 3, 2024
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.
Footage showing one of the Strikes earlier today on Iranian-Backed Forces in Northeastern Syria, by a U.S. Air Force A-10C Ground-Strike Aircraft, likely from the “Red Devils” of the 107th Fighter Squadron with the Michigan Air National Guard. pic.twitter.com/FxDCmYgR3g
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 11, 2024
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.
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.
