The One billion dollars question: Did Syria or its allies shoot down an Israeli F-35 Lightning II over the Syrian Golan?

13 September 2016, at 0100Z, Syrian Artillery positions located near Al-Qunaytera in the Syrian Golan were targeted by an Israeli Air Force raid.

This was the first violation of the latest ceasefire brokered by Russia and the U.S.

Here is the bottom line:

Officially, the Israeli acted out of retaliation after one unidentified artillery shell coming from the Syrian territory landed very close to an Ammonia storage facility (more likely a military chemical-weapons base)

Actually, IAF (Israeli Air force) and some IDF (Israeli Defense forces) Artillery units were helping Syrian rebels in the Golan to fight the Syrian Armed Forces and its allies, mainly the Lebanese Hezbollah.

The Israeli used F-15’s Sufa and for the first time the state-of-the -art F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft to suppress Syrian and Hizbollah military targets in the Syrian Golan and in the Southern suburb of Damascus.

According to the Syrian Army High Command, an unknown number of Surface-to-Air missiles were fired by the Syrian Air Defense forces or a Hezbollah special force against the intruders. The Syrians claim at least one hit in the Golan and another near Damascus. More specifically, the Syrian media outlets claim that at least one Israeli combat aircraft was shot down while another was damaged over the Golan.

Another Israeli armed drone was allegedly destroyed by AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) near Damascus.

As usual, Israel denied first everything and then acknowledged that the Syrian military used Surface-to-Air missiles against IAF combat aircraft.

And here comes the big deal! According to some of our sources, the Israeli aircraft hit by the Syrian SAM’s may be a F-35 Lightning II!

Israel will never admit it, as it would show that the F-35 Lightning II, one of the most advanced military aircraft ever built (and the most expensive ever!) is vulnerable to a new enhanced version of the old Pechora SAM.  Syria won’t admit it either, as it might back Israel into a corner leading to a solid retaliation and a large-scale regional war (and even a World war)

Previously to this latest incident, Damascus has informed Moscow about its decision to use SAM’s against any  new Israeli attack inside the Syrian territory.

Israel is one of the belligerents of the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Special Report: Strategika51

Syrian Air Defense Forces Shoot Down Two Israeli Aircraft that Bombed Syrian Army in Quneitra

© Photo: SANA

The General Command of the Army and the Armed Forces said on September 13 that the Syrian Defense Forces have shot downned two aircraft belonged to the Israeli Air Force in eastern Syria. According to the Syrian state-run SANA news agency, an Israeli warplane was downed southwest of Quneitra and an Israeli drone west of Sa’sa’.
The Syrian Armed Forces’ move was an answer to airstrikes on the Syrian Arab Army conducted by Israeli aircraft around 1:00 am (local time) on September 13. SANA emphasized that Israeli air strikes were made in support of the offensive of Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (formerly Jabhat Al Nusra), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and others on the government positions in the provicne of Quneitra.
Israel denied the loses in Syria.

“Tonight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after our aircraft attacked Syrian artillery positions. At none of the stages of the incident was the safety of the Israeli Air Force’s aircraft threatened,” Maj. Arye Shalicar told the Russian state-run media outlet ‘RIA Novosti’.

It is not possible to deny or confirm these reports while no video/photo evidence has occurred.

 https://southfront.org/syrian-air-defense-forces-shoot-down-two-israeli-aircraft-over-syria/

US-backed ‘Opposition’ Launches Fresh Offensive in Quneitra Province Minutes after Start of Nationwide Ceasefire

Minutes after the start of the nationwide ceasefire in Syria, Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (formerly Jabhat Al Nusra), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham (US-backed “moderates”) and other “moderate opposition groups” launched a fresh offensive on the Syrian government forces in the province of Quneitra, AlMasdarNews reported.

According to the report, the “opposition” attacked the 4th Battalion Base (Tal Taranjeh) and Tuloul Al-Hamr in the Golan Heights. The move resulted in heavy clashes between US-backed militants and the Syrian army.

We remind the US-backed group, Ahrar Al-Sham, has officially rejected the proposed ceasefire today morning.

https://southfront.org/us-backed-opposition-launches-fresh-offensive-in-quneitra-province-minutes-after-start-of-nationwide-ceasefire/ 

Israël viole le cessez-le-feu en Syrie et perd deux avions

Réseau Voltaire | 13 septembre 2016

Le 13 septembre 2016, à 1h du matin, alors que le cessez-le-feu venait d’entrer en vigueur, l’aviation israélienne a tenté de détruire un poste de combat au Sud de la Syrie et des installations militaires près de la capitale, Damas.

L’armée arabe syrienne a tiré des missiles de nouvelle génération contre les avions et les a touché. L’un des avions s’est écrasé en territoire tenu par les jihadistes, l’autre serait parvenu à se poser en Israël.

Tsahal a d’abord démenti les deux incidents, puis a reconnu avoir violé l’espace aérien syrien et admis que la Syrie avait tenté d’abattre ses avions.

Les informations disponibles ne permettent pas de savoir avec exactitude quels étaient les avions israéliens (F-15, F-16, voire F-35) si les missiles ont été tirés par le Hezbollah ou par l’Armée arabe syrienne, ni quels étaient ces missiles, ni qui les a fabriqués.

À l’évidence, il s’agissait d’un matériel nouveau, beaucoup plus performant que les anciens et susceptible de remettre en cause l’équilibre des forces.

http://www.voltairenet.org/article193238.html

Following Israeli Air Strikes on Syrian Army, Terrorists Launched Full-Scale Advance in Quneitra Countryside

On September 10, the Israeli Aimr Force made air strikes on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) positions at the village of Hader – the Unit 4 Base and Tiranjah in the  Syrian province of Quneitra. The air strikes were synchronized with the start of a full-scale advance of the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat Al Nusra) and its allies in the same area.
The joint terrorist forces advanced on the Hader, seizing few sites in the vilage’s countryside. Heavy clashes are ongoing in the area.

https://southfront.org/followwing-israeli-air-strikes-on-syrian-army-terrorists-launched-full-scale-advance-in-quneitra-countryside/

14.9.2016  Israeli Warplanes Continued Air Strikes on Syrian Army in Quneitra

After the incident with allegedly downed Israeli aircraft over Syria, the  Israeli Air Force continued to conduct air strikes on the Syrian army’s positions in the province of Quneitra.
At least 1 Israeli air strike was reported at the Jandal Castle at the top of al-Shiekh mountain and another one targeted the Syrian army’s artillery base near the village of Ayn Burj.

https://southfront.org/israeli-warplanes-continued-air-strikes-on-syrian-army-in-quneitra/