Most of Syria’s air force is old equipment from the Assad regime, though much of it was destroyed by Israel after the regime fell [Izzeddin A. M. Almashar/Anadolu via Getty Images]
Israel has privately conveyed its concerns over the reconstitution of Syria’s air force to the US, though analysts who spoke to The New Arab expressed scepticism that the “ancient” Syrian aircraft pose any direct threat.
Israeli media reported on the communications between Washington and Tel Aviv after video emerged on Monday of what appeared to be two Syrian Sukhoi SU-22 aircraft conducting a flight in the northwestern province of Idlib.
The aircraft, which are remnants of the airforce of Syria’s deposed Baathist government, were designed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, quoting a senior official, said Israel’s concerns were being shared with the US.
It added that alongside the establishment of a new Syrian air force, Israel was also concerned about the movement of Turkish air defence systems into the country.
Nanar Hawach, Senior Analyst for Syria at the International Crisis Group, told The New Arab that “Israel can probably live with a Syrian air force of two ageing jets, few pilots and no spare parts”, though is probably more alarmed by Ankara’s involvement.
“What concerns it is the Turkish military presence taking shape around that force,” he said, noting that Turkish training and defence agreements, as well as reports of basing plans, give their presence cover.
In late July, Syria’s air force held a graduation ceremony for 1,000 cadets which saw the flight of a 1960s Czech-built L-39 trainer aircraft.
“It raises the question whether Turkish air defences and radars will follow, which would constrain Israeli operations over Syria in a way no salvaged Sukhoi can,” Hawach said.
Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International and senior analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, agreed that the “ancient” Sukhoi aircraft pose little danger to Israel, and are likely more useful for monitoring, suppressing internal threats, acting as symbols of prestige for the military, and providing training for pilots.
“It’s not a realistic threat to Israel, which has a world-class, very modern air force with F-35 stealth fighters,” he told The New Arab. “In so far as Israel protests this, it’s hardly out of a sense of danger.”
Rather, there are three other reasons why Israel might complain about the ongoing reconstitution of the Syrian Air Force, one of which is Israel’s future use of Syrian airspace to bomb Iran, which a new air force would prevent.
“They [Israel] don’t want Syria to have fighter jets or air defences and radars, at all. They might as well try to nip any reconstruction effort in the bud”
The second is on Israel’s ongoing negotiations over Syria, which is largely focused on Israel’s occupation of southern Syria following the toppling of the Assad regime in December 2024.
“Israel may want to raise the issue with the United States to extract whatever favours and benefits it can, since they’re already negotiating over other things related to Syria.”
Lund also pointed to Israel’s desire to keep Syria “weak and dependent”.
“Even an old, small air force could make the Syrian military better positioned to overpower the Israel-backed Druze groups in Suwayda. Israel does not want that.”