Global InformationList of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Syrian civil war information
During the course of the Syrian Civil War aviation shootdowns, incidents and accidents have taken place between different state and non-state actors. By mid 2013, according to the website Strategy Page, Syrian Air Forces losses totalled nearly a hundred fixed-wing and a hundred helicopters lost. Some 400 aircrew have been killed, captured, or missing.[1]
Public observation via Google Earth of Syrian airfields shows a decreasing number of airframes parked in the open in contrast to the increasing number of recorded air sorties. The hubs of Syrian Air Force basing activity prior to and during the Syrian Civil War have been the airfields at Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia and Hama.
| Year | Air Force personnel | Combat aircraft | Attack helicopters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 100,000 |
555 |
36
|
| 2014 | 63,000 |
295 |
25
|
Due to external support by Iran and Russia, the combat readiness of the Syrian Arab Air Force actually increased over the years of the civil war,[3] with the resources being rationalized towards useful assets and wider availability of service and parts for the remaining air-frames.
As usual during an armed confrontation, it is impossible to determine the cause of every single crash, because opposing parties may claim the aircraft was shot down by their forces, while the side flying the aircraft claims it was accidental. In some instances, even the presence of a video does not clarify what happened, since a flash may be due to an antiaircraft shell or an engine explosion.
The list below includes both manned and unmanned aircraft.
- ^ "Attrition: The Destruction Of The Syrian Air Force". Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ Sylvia, Westall. "Assad's army stretched but still seen strong". The Daily Star. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ "Highest number of Syria air strikes recorded in July". Retrieved 2 August 2016.