Syrian Rebels Destroy Russian Helicopter With US-Supplied Anti-Tank Missile

Zero Hedge ^ | 11/24/2015 | Tyler Durden

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Earlier today, just hours after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 warplane near the border with Syria, the FSA (more specifically Alwiya al-Ashar) released footage of fighters celebrating over the body of a dead Russian pilot. 

The group would later claim to have executed both pilots after they ejected from the plane and attempted to parachute to safety. 

In a second serious escalation, another FSA-aligned group claimed to have shot down a Russian search and rescue helicopter.

You can read our full coverage here, but just note that if the FSA's 1st Coastal Brigade did indeed use an American-made TOW to destroy a Russian aircraft, it confirms exactly what we said on Monday when we detailed the American, Turkish, and Saudi-sponsored program to supply anti-tank missiles to the Syrian opposition: 

Obviously, this is the very definition of absurdity. It would be bad enough if the US were supplying TOWs to anyone in Syria. But this is Washington and Riyadh handing anti-tank missiles to forces that are firing them at the Iranians who are operating under cover of Russian airstrikes. Just to drive that home: the US is waging war against Iran and Russia with but one degree of separation.

Now, the FSA has released what it says is footage of the TOW attack:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/IschF-ihjS0

[Bogie]

I thought McCain’s terrorists were supposed to be the good guys.

[Bogie]

No more television for me.

[Patton@Bastogne]

Turkey has been secular since Attaturk ... it’s been going Islamic for about five years ... there’s a reason that Turkey has called the “Sick Man of Europe” for over a century ...

[dfwgator]

Putin vs Erdogan is the new Hitler vs Stalin, you wish both sides could lose.

[FreedomPoster]

Actually, they were, for Muslims. And very anti-Communist.

Turkey has taken a decided swing towards Islamism in the last 20-30 years.

[fuzzylogic]

I don’t see a missile hit it either and the explosion seems to start from underneath the helicopter.

I’m wondering if this helicopter was being abandoned and was deliberately blown up (?)

[dp0622]

I never knew it was called that. I seem to remember reading articles about a shift not many years ago.

This reality should have been noticed and action taken by NATO.

or maybe not. I’m not smart enough to know.

[G Larry]

I prefer them to fight each other, considering Bambi has no interest in upholding NATO agreements and getting us involved.

[TexasRepublic]

Geneva Convention? How quaint. Do you think the mudslime savages ever heard of the Geneva Convention? Do you think they care? The only antidote to is-slime is total war.

[Eagles6]

The second guy behind McCain ( you can see just his head over his right shoulder) is supposedly Bhagdadi the caliph of isis.

[Eagles6]

soetoro is getting us into a shooting war with Russia, China and Iran over his support for one of the most barbaric mooslim groups to come down the pike. This is not going to end well.

[DoodleDawg]

All because we had to insert ourselves into a civil war that was of no interest to us.

It could be a lot worse if McCain and Graham got their wish to have forces on the ground in Syria supporting the rebels we like against Assad and the rebels we don't like.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Fear not. Everybody, including us, is going to lose.

[Pollster1]

This could get very ugly. I imagine Obama is flapping his limp wrists up and down with glee.

L

[Homer1]

What side are we on?

[ForYourChildren]

Kind of reminds me of this.

“It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world”: it was George Washington’s Farewell Address to us.

The inaugural pledge of Thomas Jefferson was no less clear: “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations-entangling alliances with none.”

[dfwgator]

These days, who knows?

[dfwgator]

I’m afraid it will like “1984”

“We have always been at war with Russia.”

Then next week

“We have always been at war with Iran.”

[Lorianne]

Oh great.
Great allies we have there.

Yeah, we really know what we are doing in Syria. Really on top of things. Let’s send in more troops!

[Rockpile]

The information plates on the launcher unit are written in English.