Really interesting. But is there any other sources claiming the same thing or is this an isolated incident? And as a matter of interest what do you think the chances are of the Syrians hitting a jet travelling faster than the speed of sound

It sounds like a logical explanation given than I doubt they were actually trying to attack a target in Syria. The only other explanation I can think of is that they were simply trying to intimidate the Syrians. The report says that they were allegedly flying the closest straight line from the Mediterranean Sea, which could be used as another staging area (other that the obvious Persian Gulf) for US carriers as well. Certainly does seem like a test run.
They also now know some extra intelligence about Syrian air defences (which I'm sure are now cruise missile targets).

[edit on 9/9/07 by NuclearPaul]

I don't see how this can be misinterpreted. They are flying very advanced pieces of equipment with state of the art GPS/satellite navigation. If they stray into Syrian airspace I say blow the israelis out of the sky into little tiny pieces.

Borders serve a purpose.

brill

Last year during the Lebanon conflict the Israelis buzzed Assad's home in F-15s so don't doubt their ability to crush any Syrian defenses or use their airspace on their way to Iran. They would more than likely skirt the Jordanian border anyway.

Either way it look slike that missle system they bought from Russia is junk. Please Syria and Iran, keep buying more "defense systems" from Russia. They really are such a great deterrent.

the entire notion of this being some rehearsal / recce for a strike on Iran is IMHO assanine



no Israli commander would send a strike force bound to Iran accross syrian airspace

apart from giving the Syrians a chance to take down aircraft , or at least force the IDF to expend fuel / countermeasures / munitions fighting off a syrian attack

it would simply give Iran a 30+ minuite warning

ample to get thier QRF interceopotors in position , AND have a significant portion of thier other squadrons in the air , or at leasy taxiing to the runways AND have all airdefence radars / guns / missile batteries deployed manned and ready - plus reserves alerted and mobilising

that is how daft it is

someone has already cited thier raid on the osiraq reactor - read the accounts of that mission - they went through jordan / saudi and moved the date forward to avoid detection by the saudi AWACs aircraft which wre being delivered but not yet operational

just acceopt the obvious answer that this is the latest round in the 6 decade long isreal / syrian emnity that has seen 3 all out wars , and numerous skirmishes / proxy battles

everything is NOT about iran - so stop pretending it is

Either way, an attack on Syria would mean an attack on Iran, does it not? Don't they have a mutual defence pact between them?

[edit on 9-9-2007 by Beachcoma]

Originally posted by Beachcoma
Either way, an attack on Syria would mean an attack on Iran, does it not? Don't they have a mutual defence pact between them?

[edit on 9-9-2007 by Beachcoma]

An attack on syria is defenetly an attack on iran,but not from israel

Are there any aircraft Experts on here that know what the range of these aircraft are with fuel pods. I find it odd about the Fuel pods being dropped.
Were they empty? I'm thinking if they dropped Empty Fuel Pods over Syria it was a message: We can go to Iran and you cannnot stop us.

It wasnt too long ago Israel was conducting runs out to Gibraltar. This might just be the next phase.

I strongly believe that if the Syrians wanted to blow the jets out of the sky they would have. If they shoot down the jets, Israel will just be all like "look at the evil Syrians, they hate us Jews so much they have unjustly killed our pilots, WE MUST BOMB THEM TO HELL!!" and all you Israel supporters will be just feeling pity for poor little Israel.

Syria simply plays it smart, says "ahh well they have not shot at anything, and it does not look like they are planning too, we wil just fire some warnings to chase them outta here so we can all go onw ith our lives".

A war declared by either party will only create THE WAR the Zionists and Neo-Cons are dragging their tongues on the floor for. The Defensive party is just looking out for their own by trying to prevent the war, even if it means some people on the internet will just insult the defender and defend the instigator.

Originally posted by MikeboydUS
Are there any aircraft Experts on here that know what the range of these aircraft are with fuel pods. I find it odd about the Fuel pods being dropped.
Were they empty?

they always fly with the fuel pods. and when they need to make evasive manuvers, or, are faced with an enamy air threat, they drop the pods to become lighter and faster. it creates less drag.

then your only left with the fuel in your wings. which is full, up untill you drop the pods. this tech has been around a long time.....

Originally posted by JSR

Originally posted by MikeboydUS
Are there any aircraft Experts on here that know what the range of these aircraft are with fuel pods. I find it odd about the Fuel pods being dropped.
Were they empty?

they always fly with the fuel pods. and when they need to make evasive manuvers, or, are faced with an enamy air threat, they drop the pods to become lighter and faster. it creates less drag.

then your only left with the fuel in your wings. which is full, up untill you drop the pods. this tech has been around a long time.....

Yes it has been around a long time but were the fuel pods empty? Thats what I want to know? If they were empty whats the range they could of flown?

More so a test?
To see how far they couldnt actually get until someone was able to warn Iran?

Either way, its a long haul and they will need refueling if going over syria,
likewise, going in over Iraq too many shia-iranian supporters would be able to tip off Iran when the attacks occuring.

The only thign this has accomplished, is for them now to know where the sam sites are that would be first response against an attack on iran.