Syrian rebels claim to shoot down Iranian plane

www.latimes.com...

BEIRUT -- Syrian rebels claimed Thursday they downed an Iranian plane that was landing at Damascus Airport and suspected of carrying weapons and ammunition for the Syrian government.

The statement came as about a dozen students at Damascus University’s architecture college were killed in separate mortar attacks.

The Iranian plane was hit Wednesday by rebel’s anti-aircraft weaponry, crashed at the airport and exploded, causing a fire at the main terminal, opposition activists said.

Video released by opposition activists showed a large airliner flying before it appeared to be struck with a fireball.

The video and the rebel claim could not be immediately verified independently because the Syrian government restricts the access of outside journalists to conflict zones.

And just the other day Secretary Kerry instructed Iraq to not allow Iranian planes in their airspace. Perhaps the new routes are right in the crosshairs of our friends in the Free Syrian Army.

reply to post by runetang

The statement came as about a dozen students at Damascus University’s architecture college were killed in separate mortar attacks.

What does it mean ?

Iranian plane was killing them ?

persian source

It is claimed that the civilian airplane didn't land on due the fire by those rebels.

Mmm .. basically,
The Iranians are supplying the munitions to the Syrian Army,
and the Mortars that killed those students may well have came from Iran.

Probably why they added it to the article, or just because it was relevant.

Originally posted by runetang
Mmm .. basically,
The Iranians are supplying the munitions to the Syrian Army,
and the Mortars that killed those students may well have came from Iran.

Probably why they added it to the article, or just because it was relevant.

Unfortunetly SANA is a pro-government media outlet and everything in your source is suggesting that the mortar attack was a rebel attack. So too me, the Iranians shouldn't even come into the equation. As for the Jet/Plane, I will have to do a bit of diggin because this is the usual spew that we hear in the West. Unverified sources, no evidence, opposition activists.

State media blamed the attack on the opposition, while activists were divided on whether the mortar fire came from rebels or the army.

“This is the constant situation in Damascus,” said Riyad, an activist who asked to be identified by his first name only for security sake. He blamed the rebels for the shelling, saying: “I’m against this."