Posted on 04/30/2013 3:05:01 AM PDT by Neil E. Wright
Two missiles were reportedly fired at a Russian plane with at least 159 passengers on board that was flying over Syrian territory. Russian officials admit the jet faced danger, but are not talking of a targeted attack.
The news broke in on Monday as Interfax, citing “an informed source in Moscow,” reported that a Russian passenger plane was attacked.
“Syrian [officials] informed us that on Monday morning, unidentified forces launched two ground-to-air missiles which exploded in the air very close to a civilian aircraft belonging to a Russian airline,” the source told the Russian agency.
The pilots reportedly managed to maneuver the plane in time however, “saving the lives of passengers.”
It is believed the aircraft was intentionally targeted, “but it remains unclear whether the attackers knew it was Russian or not,” the source added.
However, Russian officials, though admitting the plane might have been endangered, are not yet talking of a targeted attack.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s said on its website the plane’s crew at 4.55 PM Moscow time (12.55 GMT) “detected battle action on the ground that, according to the crew, could constitute a threat to the 159 passengers on board the plane.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry is now “taking emergency measures to clarify all the circumstances of this situation, including making contact with the Syrian authorities,” the ministry’s spokesperson Aleksandr Lukashevich said.
Meanwhile, Russia's federal air traffic agency Rosaviatsia has issued a warning to all Russian airlines to avoid routes over conflict zones.
(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...
“guess who probably supplied the ground to air missiles to them.”
A dead Ambassador to Libya.
I would hate to think this is somehow retaliation for the Russians providing information about the Boston bomber brothers, and complicating the fact that the US/FBI FAILED.
What do you suppose the Russian response would have been if they would have actually brought that CIVILIAN plane down?
I doubt it. Retaliation for Russian support of assad is more likely.
Note to self:
Do not get on a plane that will be flying over Syria.
Your plan sounds good.
I think I’ll start on it now.
What do you suppose the Russian response would have been if they would have actually brought that CIVILIAN plane down?
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Unless ‘they’ were trying to get rid of 159 ‘dissidents’, methinks the Rooskies would have launched one or two or three of those ‘nooclear weapons’ they supposedly have destroyed over the years.
On 2nd thought, even if they were trying to get rid of 159 ‘dissidents’, to save face they probably would have launched anyway.
I suspect this is Russian agitprop, but it is aimed directly at the bow of the USS Obama Foreign Policy.
This is a countermove to the just released news of a “gas attack” by Assad’s regime.
Something smells here. How does a civilian airliner evade not one but two SAMs? They have no defensive systems, big hot turbofans, they are not that maneuverable... The only likely scenario I can see is that the shooters fired when it was outside the normal engagement envelope - maybe too high or too far away and they just didn’t get there...
I agree. I can see one of two scenarios: 1) The SAM’s were “targeted” to miss, or 2) The SAM’s targeting system just isn’t that good. Hard to imagine a civilian airliner going into intensive evasive maneuvers to avoid accurate SAM strikes.
It would take a fairly sophisticated SAM to bring down an airliner at +30,000 feet.
Was the plane’s call sign ‘Lusitania’?
My travel tips for all going abroad:
Obama has special forces in Turkey and Jordan aiding Syrian rebels.
Russia has special forces supporting Assad, possibly manning anti-aircraft sites.
Days ago, Obama claims Assad my be using chemical weapons...crossing the line.
Days later, Putin claims Syrian rebels took a pot shot at a Russian civilian airliner...crossing the line.
Just tit-for-tat.
Something is up in Libya,
Libya: Militiamen Surround Justice Ministry
April 30, 2013 | 1102 GMT
Dozens of Libyan militiamen on April 30 surrounded the Justice Ministry in Tripoli with trucks equipped with anti-aircraft guns, AP reported. Tensions have escalated in Libya over the last few days.
update today:
Five people were killed in an explosion April 30 at Marjeh Square in central Damascus, a monitoring group said, Reuters reported. A pro-government television channel showed widespread damage.
obama’s chickens getting ready to roost.
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