(https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/comments/feed/)  (RSS 2.0) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/feed/)  (Atom) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/feed/atom/)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/images/favicon.png) (../wp-content/themes/memouk/images/favicon.png)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=Inter%253Awght@400%3B500%3B600%3B700&family=Playfair+Display%253Awght@400%3B500%3B600%3B700&display=swap.css) (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Material+Icons%257CMaterial+Icons+Outlined%257CMaterial+Icons+Two+Tone%257CMaterial+Icons+Round%257CMaterial+Icons+Sharp&display=swap.css) Syria says 9 detained Assad-era pilots carried out strikes during 3,200 flight hours since 2011 – Middle East Monitor  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/)  (https://fonts.googleapis.com/)  (https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/)  (https://cdn.openshareweb.com/)  (https://cdn.shareaholic.net/)  (https://www.shareaholic.net/)  (https://analytics.shareaholic.com/)  (https://recs.shareaholic.com/)  (https://partner.shareaholic.com/)  (https://i0.wp.com/)  (https://c0.wp.com/)  (Middle East Monitor » Feed) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/feed/)  (Middle East Monitor » Comments Feed) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/comments/feed/)  (Middle East Monitor » Syria says 9 detained Assad-era pilots carried out strikes during 3,200 flight hours since 2011 Comments Feed) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-syria-says-9-detained-assad-era-pilots-carried-out-strikes-during-3200-flight-hours-since-2011/feed/)  (oEmbed (JSON)) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeastmonitor.com%2F20260911-syria-says-9-detained-assad-era-pilots-carried-out-strikes-during-3200-flight-hours-since-2011%2F)  (oEmbed (XML)) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeastmonitor.com%2F20260911-syria-says-9-detained-assad-era-pilots-carried-out-strikes-during-3200-flight-hours-since-2011%2F&format=xml)  (../../cdn.shareaholic.net/assets/pub/shareaholic.js)              (../wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/related-posts/related-posts.css@ver=20240116.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/casualty-widget/widget-style.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/css/styles.css@ver=6.1.6.css)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@subset=latin,latin-ext,cyrillic,cyrillic-ext&family=Open+Sans%253A400,600,700,800%257COpen Sans rel=)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@subset=latin,latin-ext,cyrillic,cyrillic-ext&family=Open+Sans%253A400%257COpen Sans rel=)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/style.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bootstrap/5.2.3/css/bootstrap.min.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bootstrap/5.2.3/css/bootstrap-grid.min.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/slick.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/slick-theme.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/style23.css@ver=asw.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/style-mega-menu.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/responsive6.css@ver=7.1.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/quick-share.css@ver=0.1.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/ajax-search-lite/css/style.basic.css@ver=4.14.4.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/ajax-search-lite/css/style-simple-red.css@ver=4.14.4.css)  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/)  (JSON) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/864702)  (RSD) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd)   (index.html)  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=864702)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Open+Sans&display=swap.css)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Open+Sans&display=swap.css)  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-syria-says-9-detained-assad-era-pilots-carried-out-strikes-during-3200-flight-hours-since-2011/?amp)                 (../../i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png@fit=32,32&ssl=1)  (../../i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png@fit=64,64&ssl=1)  (../../i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png@fit=64,64&ssl=1)                (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)   clear   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/asia-americas/) Asia & Americas  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/africa-2/) Africa  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/europe-russia/) Europe & Russia  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/middle-east/) Middle East    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/) Opinion (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) Articles  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/blogs-2/) Blog  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/asia-americas/) Asia & Americas  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/africa-2/) Africa  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/europe-russia/) Europe & Russia  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/middle-east/) Middle East    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/) Reviews (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-books/) Books  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-films-documentaries/) Films & Documentaries  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-events-articles/) Events & Articles    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/interviews/) Features (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/interviews/) Interviews  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/profiles/) Profiles  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/on-this-day/) On this day  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/palestine-this-week/) Palestine This Week  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/memo-in-conversation-with/) MEMO in Conversation  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/dispatch-from-gaza/) Dispatch from Gaza    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/) Publications (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/reports/) Reports  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/briefing-papers/) Briefing Papers  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/fact-sheets/) Fact Sheets  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/documents/) Documents    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/) Multimedia (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/) Videos & Photo Stories  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/explained/) Explained  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/memo-monitoring/) MEMO Monitoring  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/youve-been-served/) You've Been Served  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/destinations-discover-the-middle-east/) Discover the Middle East  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/conferences/) MEMO Conferences: Speeches  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/infographics/) Infographics  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/twitter-trends/) Twitter Trends  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/podcasts/) Podcasts    expand_more  (index.html#) More (https://www.palestinebookawards.com/) Palestine Book Awards     (https://www.memopublishers.com/) MEMO Publishers     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/about/) About Us  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact/) Contact Us    expand_more   (https://middleeastmonitor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f75dc11487e03cbba46b3dd8&id=294940df6c) Free Subscription     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)    Creating new perspectives since 2009          English Edition expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/) English Edition  (http://www.monitordooriente.com/) Portuguese Edition     (https://middleeastmonitor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f75dc11487e03cbba46b3dd8&id=294940df6c) Free Subscription   (https://www.facebook.com/middleeastmonitor)    (https://twitter.com/middleeastmnt)    (https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/)    (https://www.threads.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.youtube.com/@MEMonitor)    (https://middleeastmonitor.bsky.social)       search      (Search here..) ()  ()  (Start search)                          (0) (1) (0)   Generic selectors (exact)    Exact matches only   (title)    Search in title   (content)    Search in content   (excerpt)     Post Type Selectors (post)   (page)                 (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)           (https://middleeastmonitor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f75dc11487e03cbba46b3dd8&id=294940df6c) Free Subscription   (https://www.facebook.com/middleeastmonitor)    (https://twitter.com/middleeastmnt)    (https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/)    (https://www.threads.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.youtube.com/@MEMonitor)    (https://middleeastmonitor.bsky.social)       search      (Search here..) ()  ()  (Start search)                    (0) (1) (0)   Generic selectors (exact)    Exact matches only   (title)    Search in title   (content)    Search in content   (excerpt)     Post Type Selectors (post)   (page)       Loading...                (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/middle-east/) Middle East ,  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) News ,  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/middle-east/syria/) Syria ,    Syria says 9 detained Assad-era pilots carried out strikes during 3,200 flight hours since 2011      (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments   September 11, 2026 at 4:33 pm       (A general view shows the historical Palace of Justice building, housing various judicial courts and legal offices, in central Damascus, Syria, on August 18, 2026. [Izz Aldien Alqasem - Anadolu Agency])   A general view shows the historical Palace of Justice building, housing various judicial courts and legal offices, in central Damascus, Syria, on August 18, 2026. [Izz Aldien Alqasem – Anadolu Agency]             Preliminary investigations with nine detained pilots showed that they carried out airstrikes targeting several areas during more than 3,200 flight hours logged since the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011, a source at Syria’s Interior Ministry said Friday, Anadolu reports. The remarks were carried by state-run Alikhbariah TV a day after authorities announced the arrest of the nine pilots in the western province of Latakia over their involvement in “war crimes against the Syrian people.” The pilots used different types of military aircraft, most notably Mi-24 attack helicopters, Su-22 fighter jets, MiG-29s and MiG-21s, the source said. The strikes particularly targeted towns in Eastern Ghouta in the Damascus countryside, Aleppo and its northern countryside, Deir ez-Zor and surrounding areas in the east, and the Hama countryside in central Syria, the source added. Their missions included combat sorties, “bombing revolutionary positions, populated areas, facilities and vital sites,” as well as close air support, reconnaissance and target identification, according to the source. The source said they were also responsible for equipping helicopters and fighter jets with various types of explosive munitions and carrying out the required technical checks and operational preparations before takeoff. Their duties also included identifying locations and coordinates, preparing target data and supplying it to pilots, directing them during missions, and transporting former regime officers to combat zones and military positions, the source added. A Thursday statement by Latakia Internal Security Commander Abdulaziz al-Ahmad said a series of security operations conducted in cooperation with the Counterterrorism Branch led to the arrest of the pilots following surveillance, tracking, intelligence gathering and investigations. READ: (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260910-arab-states-condemn-netanyahus-incursion-into-mount-hermon-in-syria/) Arab states condemn Netanyahu’s incursion into Mount Hermon in Syria    He said the detainees had participated, according to the investigations and available information, in “numerous crimes and violations against the Syrian people,” exploiting their military positions and expertise in combat and helicopter aviation. The statement said the operations they took part in included bombardment and attacks that caused large numbers of deaths and injuries, inflicted extensive damage on cities and towns, displaced residents and destroyed homes, facilities and civilian infrastructure. The detainees were identified as Brig. Gen. Manhal Anwar Saleh, Brig. Gen. Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud, Brig. Gen. Ghiyath Ali al-Rahiyah, Col. Issa Ezzeddine Khaddur, Col. Marwan Salah Nafesh, Col. Bashar Samir Wannous, Lt. Col. Ayham Hamza Aliya, Capt. Ayham Ahmad Daoud and Capt. Ammar Issa Junaidi. Al-Ahmad said the arrests were part of efforts to pursue anyone found responsible for crimes against Syrians and ensure that those implicated are referred to the competent judiciary. Syrian authorities periodically announce the arrest of people accused of committing violations against civilians during the years of the revolution, which began in March 2011 before opposition forces entered Damascus and toppled the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024.   (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments  (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) (Creative Commons License)   Unless otherwise stated in the article above, this work by (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) What does that mean? For other permissions, please (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact) contact us .  Spotted an error on this page? Let us know    (22342)  (6.1.6)  (en_US)  (wpcf7-f22342-p864702-o1)  (864702)  ()  ()   (Email Address (if you require a response)) ()    (What is the error?)    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google (https://policies.google.com/privacy) Privacy Policy and (https://policies.google.com/terms) Terms of Service apply.  (Send)   Δ  (121)             (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments     Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.   Latest news (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) See all  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-saudi-arabias-key-oil-pipeline-hit-by-projectiles-sparking-fires-report/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-saudi-arabias-key-oil-pipeline-hit-by-projectiles-sparking-fires-report/) Saudi Arabia’s key oil pipeline hit by projectiles, sparking fires: Report   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-saudi-arabias-key-oil-pipeline-hit-by-projectiles-sparking-fires-report/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-uk-sanctions-on-israeli-settlements-to-cover-east-jerusalem-syrias-golan-heights-report/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-uk-sanctions-on-israeli-settlements-to-cover-east-jerusalem-syrias-golan-heights-report/) UK sanctions on Israeli settlements to cover East Jerusalem, Syria’s Golan Heights: Report   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-uk-sanctions-on-israeli-settlements-to-cover-east-jerusalem-syrias-golan-heights-report/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-iranian-president-urges-brics-to-prevent-obstruction-of-legitimate-trade/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-iranian-president-urges-brics-to-prevent-obstruction-of-legitimate-trade/) Iranian president urges BRICS to prevent obstruction of legitimate trade   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-iranian-president-urges-brics-to-prevent-obstruction-of-legitimate-trade/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-us-defence-chief-vows-to-finish-this-fight-with-iran/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-us-defence-chief-vows-to-finish-this-fight-with-iran/) US defence chief vows to ‘finish this fight’ with Iran   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-us-defence-chief-vows-to-finish-this-fight-with-iran/) Muhammad Hussein      (index.html) ()    (index.html) Syria says 9 detained Assad-era pilots carried out strikes during 3,200 flight hours since 2011   (index.html) Muhammad Hussein      Subscribe to our newsletter () (Email Address) Sign up           (https://www.memopublishers.com/publications/islam-race-and-rebellion-in-the-americas-transatlantic-echoes-of-the-west-african-jihads/) (Islam Race and Rebellion in the Americas: Transatlantic Echoes of the West African Jihads)      (https://www.memopublishers.com/publications/engaging-the-world-the-making-of-hamas-foreign-policy) (Engaging the World: The Making of Hamas’s Foreign Policy)            Related Posts      Trending  (index.html#memoTodayTrending) Today  (index.html#memoWeeklyTrending) This week   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-houthi-official-warns-turkey-and-pakistan-against-intervention-on-saudi-arabias-side/) (Houthi official warns Turkey and Pakistan against intervention on Saudi Arabia’s side) Houthi official warns Turkey and Pakistan against intervention on Saudi Arabia’s side   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) (Article) Article (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-the-aegeans-new-arms-race-isnt-about-weapons-anymore/) (The Aegean’s new arms race isn’t about weapons anymore) The Aegean’s new arms race isn’t about weapons anymore   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-clinton-urges-tougher-us-stance-on-netanyahu-ahead-of-elections/) (Clinton urges tougher US stance on Netanyahu ahead of elections) Clinton urges tougher US stance on Netanyahu ahead of elections   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-new-documentary-exposes-israeli-militarys-ai-driven-killing-system-in-gaza/) (New documentary exposes Israeli military’s AI-driven killing system in Gaza) New documentary exposes Israeli military’s AI-driven killing system in Gaza   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) (Article) Article (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260911-how-9-11-remade-the-middle-east/) (How 9/11 remade the Middle East) How 9/11 remade the Middle East      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260907-iran-airs-footage-purporting-to-show-missile-strikes-on-us-warships/) (Iran airs footage purporting to show missile strikes on US warships) Iran airs footage purporting to show missile strikes on US warships   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) (Article) Article (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260905-tehrans-dangerous-illusion-of-control/) (Tehran’s dangerous illusion of control) Tehran’s dangerous illusion of control   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260905-us-administered-polygraphs-to-military-officers-for-iran-war-leaks/) (US ‘administered’ polygraphs to military officers for Iran war leaks) US ‘administered’ polygraphs to military officers for Iran war leaks   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260908-former-shin-bet-chief-israel-is-losing-war-and-heading-towards-end-of-zionist-project/) (Former Shin Bet chief: Israel is losing war and heading towards end of Zionist project) Former Shin Bet chief: Israel is losing war and heading towards end of Zionist project   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260907-burning-homes-with-innocent-arabs-inside-is-jewish-terrorism-ex-israeli-premier/) (Burning homes with innocent Arabs inside is ‘Jewish terrorism’: Ex-Israeli Prime Minister) Burning homes with innocent Arabs inside is ‘Jewish terrorism’: Ex-Israeli Prime Minister              (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/africa-2/) Africa  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/asia-americas/) Asia & Americas  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/middle-east/) Middle East  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/europe-russia/) Europe  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-books/) Book Reviews     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/blogs-2/) Blog  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/) Opinion  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/) Reviews  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/) Multimedia  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240130-podcasts-middle-east-monitor-conversations/) Podcast: Middle East Monitor Conversations  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240130-podcasts-palestine-this-week/) Podcast: Palestine This Week     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/editorial-guidelines/) Editorial Guidelines  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/about/) About Us  (https://www.palestinebookawards.com) Palestine Book Awards  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact/) Contact Us  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/privacy/) Privacy Policy  (https://www.memopublishers.com/) MEMO Publishers  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/all-stories/) All Stories Archive     Subscribe to our newsletter () (Email Address) Sign up      (https://www.facebook.com/middleeastmonitor)    (https://twitter.com/middleeastmnt)    (https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/)    (https://www.threads.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.youtube.com/@MEMonitor)    (https://middleeastmonitor.bsky.social)            © Ardi Associates Ltd 2009- . All Rights Reserved | (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/editorial-availability-intellectual-property/) Legal Pages | (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/privacy/) Privacy Policy  Middle East Monitor is owned and operated by (https://www.ardi-associates.co.uk/) Ardi Associates Ltd