https://southfront.org/heroic-death-of-russian-su-25-pilot-and-operation-in-idlib/
On February 3, militants of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft with a MANPAD, over the village of Khan al-Sabil in the Syrian province of Idlib. The attack aircraft was on a combat patrol, carrying out airstrikes on facilities belonging to the terrorist group in the area of Saraqib.
The warplane’s pilot, Major Roman Filipov ejected before the plane crashed. Injured and surrounded, Filipov fought with the militants on the ground. During the fight, he fired at least 40 rounds from his Stechkin automatic pistol at the enemies. Then, Filipov allowed the militants to approach him, shouted “This is for our boys!” and blew himself up using a hand grenade. This explosion likely killed or injured a few militants.
Following the incident, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a massive strike on the area where the militants downed the warplane and where they attempted to capture its pilot. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strike killed at least 30 militants.
With help of Turkey, Filipov’s body was handed over to Russia and was brought to the country on February 6. Major Filipov was posthumously awarded the title of the Hero of Russia, the highest honorary title of the Russian Federation.
According to the local sources, Russia deployed additional units of the Special Forces at frontlines in Syria following the shootdown of the Su-25. It appears that the incident triggered an increase of both ground and air aspects of the Russian military involvement in the Idlib operation. This may become a turning point in the standoff in this part of the country, similar to the operations in Aleppo, Deir Ezzor and Palmyra, when Russia shifted its strategy from regular support ofthe Syrian Army to direct active actions. If this occurs, it would significantly influence the dynamic and the nature of the military operations in Idlib.
Of course, the big question is who provided the MANPAD to these terrorists: immediate candidates come to mind: US,UK, Israel. It seems the us is going to great lengths to disavow any provision of MANPADS but the provision of lethal weapons was authorized and I would argue that the supplier, whoever it is, has no idea who currently has these weapons in their possession and use-what a clusterfark.
This does not address the possibility or probability that these MANPADS were deliberatlely provided to these terrorists for this specific purpose, for downing Syrian or Russian planes. With brennan, susan rice, nuland, it certainly seems that it was probable. With the current crop of neo/zio cons in the admin, the program very well continues.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/27/russia-enraged-us-arming-syrian-rebels-manpads/
“I would argue that the supplier, whoever it is, has no idea who currently has these weapons in their possession and use…”
Which merely serves to add to the “terrorist threat level”. Triples all round!
The Western governments have developed a strategy that is apparently win-win for them. Provided you completely remove the moral dimension – which, apparently, is not trouble for them.
“This is for my boys.”
Roman Filipov will be remembered for all time as a die hard hero.
No one will remember the names of the imbeciles who fought on behalf of Israel & Uncle Scam, who got massacred by the combined might of russian airpower and syrian infantry.
It’s sad but true.
its amazing that this got into the news in such a cohesive fashion
Yes it is Ann and it makes one even more suspicious of anything presented in intelligence controlled media, ‘alternative’ or otherwise.
Is it true? I would like to believe but I no longer can.
Everything we are told is for the purpose of controlling our thoughts and behaviour. The fact I see mostly state sponsered sayanim leading responses in every corner of the web, and so few authentic reactions like yours in comparison, convinces me this event is most likely manufactured.
It’s my instinct also and I have long grown a little wary and weary of a fair amount of commentators who dissect the western propaganda with ease and logic but then present themselves as herded as those they accuse of being brainwashed when they swallow up without question the propaganda of Russia and its allies. It’s part of politics, not black and white, good v evil…and this story which is not verified by any serious source appears from more likely chicken feed for the masses seeking to be reminded of and proud of the the brave russian soldier hero…
According to other sources, the two plane flight was on a patrol over the zone to verify the ‘deconfliction’ agreement for that area. Being not particularly foolish, the planes were armed as is SOP. The flight plans are exchanged between Russia, Turkey and US (Turkey and US/+’allies’ are in Syria illegally and in gross and continuous violation of international law and UN protocols) to prevent any untoward meetups between opposing air forces, therefore it is not rocket scientist level intelligence to understand that someone had knowledge of the flight plan.
Of interest is where the anti air missile came from. There were instant and protracted denials from Five Points and Foggy Bottom concerning supplying the missile to the terrorists which do of course raise some suspicions since at that time no one to my knowledge had said a word about who done it. Actual proof of the supplier will be very difficult if not impossible for the simple reason that the terrorists have captured significant amounts of Syrian ordinance over the years of this war including anti aircraft and anti tank missiles and ordinance. Toss in the fact that US/nato/eu and their lackeys have supplied quite large amounts of ordinance encompassing just about every conceivable type to their ‘allies’ doing the fighting and an actual fingerprint will be very hard to find and/or prove.
This lack of accountability will, and has, led to retributions involving the actual participants of this attack. As has been mentioned to me since this event happened, one would be foolish to think that Russia/SyAA did not have assets in that zone with eyes on just about everything progressing.
My personal thoughts on this event is this was a one shot deal to stick a knife in RuAF and Russia’s efforts to stop this war and preserve Syria and it’s legally elected government from overthrow by USA. Before the aircraft hit the ground the, in my opinion, foreign soldiers who did the actual shoot down with information provided to them by USA or Turkey were on the move to get out of the area. The fact that the wingman of the downed plane stayed in direct contact with the terrorists for some time, strafing with almost impunity, indicates to me that the shoot down team was running as fast they could and the team was also probably aware that there were Russians not too far away and on the ground, therefore they did the shooting, hauled butt and did not have another missile to attempt to shoot down the wingman as he risked his life defending his mate.
I have no doubts that those who committed this act are known, as are those who mortared our hospital and killed doctors and nurses aiding the civilians did last year. Those who committed that crime are no longer walking this earth and I am willing to bet the same fate awaits those who committed the shoot down. For those who committed this latest crime, sleep well, my darlings. Mother forgets nothing and here’s a little quote from President of Russia V V Putin:
To forgive the terrorists is up to God. To send them to him is up to me.
Major Filipov’s funeral in Voronezh yesterday was attended by in excess of 30,000 citizens and military. The burial was with full military honors as would be expected and he was awarded the medal Hero of Russia for his valiant fight against the terrorists. May God rest his soul and console his wife and child.
Auslander
Author
Sevastopol, The Third Defense. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KRPLS4 Book 1, A Premonition, The Move South.
Blue Cloud. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797XJM91 A pleasant little adventure of a young collie, told in her words.
Thank you for this further explanation. Yes it would be nigh impossible to trace this manpad to its US source.
Each revelation of weapons manufacture reveals the complicity of washington which thankfully is imploding from within…. Never ever seen such infighting amongst its elites…… and institutions …. what a cesspool.
These are men that passionately believe in and fight for their nation and people. What does the US military fight for? Banksters, Corporations, corrupt politicians, etc? There is no comparison.
Yes the Pentagon does this ….. Fight for the cororations …. Yet when one re reads history as bent as it is one sees monachies doing the same…. Militaries going off shore for the King Queen and/or country ….. 100 s of years of exported violence to fill the coffers of the elites ….. under a litany of religionious lies whatever ….
Today little nations follow the bigger nations dictates depending which side they have been compelled to be on….
Nothing has changed…. just the lies from the elites are more universally spun and more manipulative so many more are compelled to go off shore with weapons ….
Absolutely no comparison. We are getting a good laugh from one of the current attacks/scandals against President Trump when he mentioned he would like to see a parade in US similar to the French Bastille Day parade for which President Trump is being pilloried. Its a real grin. Here, veterans and serving soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen are respected and honored. Not the same in eu and US today.
Our parade in little Sevastopol, 2015. It is estimated that 300,000 citizens and visitors were at this one and I believe it. We were formed up at the top of Lenina for 3 hours and the streams of guests walking past us were unbelievable, constant for the entire 3 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfNEIhGVhxY
Auslander
Author
Sevastopol, The Third Defense. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KRPLS4 Book 1, A Premonition, The Move South
Blue Cloud https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797XJM91 A pleasant little adventure of a young collie, told in her words.
I think the 250-year experiment in founding a country which believes in nothing but money is coming rapidly to a close.
Tom Welsh
I came to the very same conclusion a number of years ago.
We believed in God Almighty instead of a collection of miscreants who call themselves “government” … .
“There were instant and protracted denials from Five Points and Foggy Bottom concerning supplying the missile to the terrorists…”
Which of course leads to the thought,
“Never believe anything until it has been officially denied”.
– Claud Cockburn
“Actual proof of the supplier will be very difficult if not impossible…”
Apart from anything else, because establishing “plausible deniability” is a core competency which the CIA has been honing for at least 60 years.
Aus,
I am wondering about four scenario’s:
1. Did the SU25’s have their countermeasure devices on board and on?
2. This was obviously another test of the Russian defenses just like the “bezpilotchiki”, hence did this missile have new countermeasures against the Russian countermeasures installed and was fired to test it?
3. Also, the place was obviously selected to throw Russian-Turkish fragile relationship into a spin.
4. The intriguing visit of the “bezpeka” guys, in my mind, was meant to give the CIA and the US system an advance warning of what’s to come if they continue?
Anonius
To answer your questions as best as I can:
1. I don’t know what devices were on the aircraft and if they were working at the time of the shoot down.
2. I doubt that the latest ‘state of the art’ missile was used, simply because the area in in turmoil and the chances of the missile being purloined are therefore higher, as in much higher.
3. Who knows? Turkey certainly acted with alacrity to get the pilot back from the bad guys who intended to hold his body for ransom.
4. Your thoughts are possible but that begs the question of ‘would Uncle Sugar listen’ and even if he listened, understood and actually acted, what is the time frame for his reaction to filter down to the local AO?
Auslander, let me start by thanking you for all your good reports. You have educated us about Sevastopol and Crimea.
I think the planes radar had trouble detecting the missile, because it had a self guiding system.
Thanks
“Those who committed that crime are no longer walking this earth and I am willing to bet the same fate awaits those who committed the shoot down”.
Inshallah.
“They plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners”.
With the steady ramp up of provocations in Syria against Syria, Russia and Iran, it looks, as someone mentioned, like Plan B is in effect which includes, in my opinion, not only the breakup of Syria with the Kurds getting a substantial portion of the oil wealth and Turkey getting a ‘buffer zone’ but mainly it is a steadily increasing pressure on Russia, not only in Syria but also in Novorossiya war. The ‘coalition’ has staked a claim to anything east of the Euphrates and seems to be enhancing the abilities of the ‘Kurds’, read US, to enforce that claim.
Substantial numbers of ‘nato’ troops are in the conflict area of Novorossiya and more ‘coalition’ troops are arriving in Syria, neither of which bodes well. For some unknown reason Foggy Bottom/Five Points are hurtling towards an all out and open conflict with Russia as the main victim. From my viewpoint it don’t look good at all.
Auslander
The MANPAD was obviously provided by those who created ISIS. Basically a foolish thing. Yes, ISIS shot down one light SU-25 bomber, but it also warned the Russians of their existence. MANPADS fire missiles of limited range, being designed to attack helicopters and low flying aircraft. They cannot be used against aircraft flying at higher altitudes, as they don’t have the range. Russia on the other hand has high tech missiles which can be fired from high altitude, striking targets with precision. These MANPADS will not reverse the situation on the battlefield. If anything, ISIS will get a double dose of high tech and bombs.
Russia cleared airspace with Turkey so the RF could immediately fly in new Su-30s and Su-35s. They will fly at higher altitudes than the workhorse Su-25s.
And on the ground, there seems to be an infusion of Russian forces (probably more of Kadyrov’s boys, too) to assist Syrian troops in clearing Idlib.
Coordination with Turkey immediately began with Putin phone calls to Erdogan, which resulted in more Turkey’s air force working over the Kurds and others in Afrin. Iran, too was called by Erdogan to work with Iranian forces to get things stabilized in the DEZs. Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan will meet shortly in Istanbul. This follows up their meeting in Sochi. This alliance for Syrian affairs is growing tighter.
The US problems in the East really require a five-nation hookup like the last days along the Iraqi border at al Mayadin and al Kamal. Iraq, Iran, Syria, Russia and Hezbollah worked and US stayed the hell away. Once that was over, the US filled the vacuum and has used the SDF to cover ISIS infusions into the US proxy army in the East.
Turkey will have to join Iraq, Iran, Syria and Russia to deal with the SDF. I don’t see that occurring before S-400 coverage becomes real over the East. At the least, several S-300s and many Pantsir units have to be a fact before the US and its phony coalition realize they will be decimated if they try to fly cover for the SDF, New Syrian Army and other erstatz “rebels”. That’s how the borders will become Syrian, and the agriculture and oil field and key roads and cities return to sovereign Syria. And Turkey gets a Kurd-free border again.
It will never be negotiated from the US. It has to be denied to the US.
After the World Cup the General Staff of the RF will have the plans and Intel ready, the coordination set, and we will see some new realities by late summer-autumn.
Remember, General Soleimani issued his warning directly at the “invaders”.
https://southfront.org/qassem-soleimanis-letter-us-leave-syria-else-al-hasaka-2018-become-beirut-1983/
Larchmonter445
Thank you. Very informative. I too agree that Russia will now beef up Syria’s AA missile systems.
Видео похорон лётчика Филипова.Провести в последний путь погибшего в Сирии лётчика Романа Филипова пришли десятки тысяч жителей Воронежа.
https://youtu.be/5LILD8bc9tY
https://youtu.be/KhjgoE4Zw1k
Translation:Video of the funeral of Pilot Filipov. Tens of thousands of Voronezh citizens came to the last way of the pilot Pilot Filipov, who died in Syria.(MOD)
Another one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynr6-GDNUa0
Over 30’000 People Attend Funeral for Russian Pilot of Downed Su-25 Jet in Syria
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201802081061490158-funeral-russian-pilot-downed/
Retired US Air Force Serviceman Tears Up Recalling Story of Russian Su-25 Hero
https://sputniknews.com/world/201802081061480260-us-air-force-serviceman-appeal-to-su25-hero/
Major Roman Filipov died a soldiers death, staring death defiantly in the eyes. He was probably very aware that his destiny would otherwise be grim. There is no form of kind warfare, but history has shown that even through the worst of conflicts, that respect can still exist (WWI Christmas truce). This conflict has shown some of the worst sides of human behavior. Especially ISIS have behaved in a manner, that is revolting. And it is intentional on ISIS’ side, they numb people to atrocities, and eventually making them oblivious to them. They drag humanity into the gutter, because that is where they are, mentally and humanly.
I think Major Roman Filipov’s death and final stance impressed even the Turks, their mediation, so that his body could be brought back home, indicates this.
But what about Major Roman Filipov, who was he ? That would be interesting to know, which of course we shall not. Obviously he was an Aerospace pilot, he was also an patriot, believing in Russia and their policies laid out, believing he was serving Russia’s interests. There certainly must have been more to the man.
He started in the Ukrainian air force and was much respected by his comrades. He was Crimean. He had many flight hours and was a commander.
Agree, the Major was a man!
I sincerely hope that the Major’s widow and daughter will be taken care of-I am quite confident that Putin has a heart and he will see to it. I’m also quite confident that the Russians who knew the Major and his family will see to it-just looking at those videos of the funeral was enough to cause an emotional reaction. They repected him!
No intro necessary.
Major Roman Filipov’s Heroism Was of the Russian Variety
https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201802071061446570-major-filipov-death-russian-heroism/
Memory eternal, Major Filipov!
I heard that there is an audio file circulating on the ‘net in which an American-accented English voice is heard saying “Got him” when the plane is struck. I’m not sure of the veracity of this, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if a CIA/SF type wasn’t embedded with the terrorists.
Canthama
Hard to confirm what was hit or not on both sides, by now it seems confirmed from the Israeli side:
1) Dozens of Israeli ballistic missiles were hit.
2) 1xF16 was destroyed. Pilot was killed after arriving in the hospital, navigator ok.
3) 1xApache cooper was hit but not confirmed full destruction, occupied Shebba farms.
4) 1 F15 was hit in the air but not downed, like the F35 last time that the israeli said a bird hit it and damaged it for eternity.
5) 1 attack drone was downed.
More to come.
One key aspect of the Syrian defenses is that dozens of Israeli missiles, ballistics, cruise etc.. were jammed in the air and did not hit the targets, this is very new for the Israeli, the only ones in Syria with such a powerful jamming system is Russia, let that sink in.
The destruction in side Syria was mostly material, T4 airbase of lightly hit, a village near a IRGC base in SW Damascus was hit multiple times, but still no main reports of KIA and WIA, but there must have been.
Both Israel and the US regimes are desperate, their regime change did not work and time is running out, they need a war, for different reasons (Satanyahoo will be in deep trouble due to corruption so he needs a war to divert the attention) and the US is broke to the bone and needs a war as the only chance of aiming to stay a global power. Both are going to lose if they continue in that pace.
Romane, CARE !
This can not be translated either literally or indirectly from Serbian, but to tell somebody that you regard him as CAR (Tsar) is the highest compliment, meaning that you think of him (or his act, or both) as ‘non plus ultra’. IT has nothing to do with ‘tsar’ as a title in ruling class/nobility.
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