Announced French aircraft have not been registered by the Russian air defence systems.
Maybe I misunderstand but the briefing describes other aircraft/platforms that were in use, including British ones. From The Saker's English transcript of the videotaped briefing, which is also available with simultaneous English text translation on the screen (YouTube as well as The Saker site)
[...]
It is reported that the B-1B, F-15 and F-16 aircraft of the USAF as well as the Tornado airplanes of the UK RAF over the Mediterranean Sea, and the USS Laboon and USS Monterey located in the Red Sea were used during the operation.
The B-1B strategic bombers approached the facilities over the Syrian territory near al-Tanf illegally seized by the USA.
A number [of] Syrian military airfields, industrial and research facilities suffered the missile-bomb strike.
As [preliminarily] reported, there are no civilian casualties and losses among the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Information will be further specified and made public.
As evident by the available data, 103 cruise missiles have been launched, including Tomahawk naval-based missiles as well as GBU-38 guided air bombs fired from the B-1B; the F-15 and F-16 aircraft launched air-to-surface missiles.
The Tornado airplanes of the UK RAF launched eight Scalp EG missiles.
[...]The briefing, which also includes a description of every Syrian target, goes on in that vein, but no mention of French bomber/cruise missile activity.
A couple points from the briefing I want to flag:
- 71 out of the 103 missiles/bombs were intercepted by Syrian air defenses.
- Four missiles targeted the Damascus International Airport. All were shot down.
Anyhow, was Macron having his cake and eating it too? Telling Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Salman that the French would join in the bombing, then not actually ordering bombers to fly into Syrian airspace? Perhaps we'll find out for certain someday.
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