If Mil Mi-8/17 Hip and Mil Mi-25 Hind gunship helicopters, L-39 combat trainers, MiG-23 fighter bombers were the assets most frequently employed against the rebels since the beginning of the uprising, other aircraft, less frequently depicted in images and footage from Syria because initially grounded by lack of spare parts, or because operating at higher altitudes or in remote areas located away from the main cities, are becoming increasingly active in the skies around Damascus.
Among them, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) MiG-21s.
A video (now removed) clearly showed a Fishbed overflying the rebel positions. Noteworthy, unlike other similar footage, the aircraft performed a 180° turn without releasing flares to deceive IR anti-aircraft missiles (possibly a sign that MANPADS were not reported in the area where the video was taken).
In Sept. 2012, a video emerged showing the remains of a Syrian Arab Air Force Mig-21 shot down near Idlib.
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In June of last year a MiG-21 defected to Jordan.
H/T to Ted (@tedgforce) for the heads-up
