The Israeli question

[Shaft109]

Right since the boys and girls are off to war - again - I look at the proximity of Israel and just think if for any reason they divert or drift off course the IAF will simply take it on regardless of nationality.
I've read of previous encounters and know there has been history but would anyone be willing to elaborate if not too sensitive?

Personally I think this latest one is a mess of the highest order that we don't need to get involved in just yet.

Lots of different sides and players, but all operating next to / in conflict with / who knows what?

Fly safe guys. Next step will be ground troops.....

[Danny42C]

Shaft109,

Next step will be ground troops.....

Next question: WHO''LL BELL THE CAT ?

Danny42C.

[Easy Street]

Looking at any map of ISIL's presence in Syria, it strikes me that proximity to Israel (regardless of any threat that might pose) is about the last thing our aircrew will be concerned about.

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/520/cpsprodpb/104EB/production/_86959766_iraq_syria_air_strikes_624_v51.png

Next!

[ORAC]

The Russians are bombing the rebels south of Damascus down to the Golan. They have stated they are coordinating with the Israelis in case of any border incursions.

Russia, Israel To Broaden Defense Coordination in Syria (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/2015/11/30/russia-israel-broaden-defense-coordination-syria/76576390/)

[ImageGear]

It's already happened and settled sensibly:

“Russian pilots occasionally cross into Israeli airspace, but due to excellent defense coordination that began with Netanyahu’s meeting with Putin in which limits were set, the Israel Defense Forces and the Russian military agreed on security arrangements,” said General (res.) Amos Gilad, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s political-security division, as reported to Israeli media outlets.

The security protocol established between Israel and Russia should prevent incident like the one of Nov. 24 and the subsequent diplomatic crisis.

He added, “In the understandings with the Russians, we retain freedom of action in our attempts to prevent weapons getting through from Iran to Hezbollah.”

Violations regularly occur elsewhere.

Russians intruding Israeli airspace (http://theaviationist.com/2015/11/29/russian-intruding-israel-airspace-turkish-greek-one/)

[Easy Street]

ORAC and ImageGear,

I read the original post as referring to British aircraft, both in the fact of its timing relative to the House of Commons vote and its reference to "boys and girls" - not a term we would normally use to talk about the Russians. Obviously Russian pilots bombing the "moderate" rebels in the west of Syria will be operating close to Israeli and Lebanese airspace, but our aircrew will be operating over ISIL territory and unconcerned with our defensively-minded chums in Israel. The isolated ISIL pocket near Damascus is over 50 miles from the border, and that's room enough even for the lumbering old GR4 to make a turn!

[Heathrow Harry]

I doubt the IAF will do much unless it gets silly - why stir up the US/France/Russia/UK/UAE by shooting down one of their aircraft which is clearly operating against Israel's enemies - at no cost cashwise or diplomatically to Israel?

they must be bent double with laughter in the Israeli armed forces - Iran being sucked into a ground war, the Saudi's etc beating on their fellow religionists, everyone else fighting everyone else..................

You couldn't make it up

[TEEEJ]

Shaft109,

No need to avoid Israeli airspace. The Israeli's regularly allow the likes of Tornado and Voyager to transit through. Sometimes they appear on FlightRadar24.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/fr24.jpg

http://theaviationist.com/2015/12/04/raf-tornados-first-air-strike-in-syria/

[Danny42C]

IMHO, the Israelis will sit tight and enjoy the fun unless ISIS should ever approach their borders.

Then they will react in spades !

D.