Damascus, Sept. 11 (SANA) Preliminary investigations into nine pilots recently arrested in Latakia Province, western Syria, have shown that they logged more than 3,200 flight hours and sorties since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, including airstrikes targeting several areas, a source at the Ministry of Interior told SANA on Friday.
The source said the pilots operated various types of military aircraft, notably Mi-24 attack helicopters and Su-22, MiG-29 and MiG-21 fighter jets. They carried out airstrikes targeting several areas, particularly Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus Countryside, Aleppo city and countryside, Deir Ezzor and its countryside, and the countryside of Hama.
The pilots’ assigned duties included combat sorties and missions, strikes on positions held by rebels and population centers, and attacks on vital facilities and sites, as well as close air support, reconnaissance and target identification, the source explained.
Their responsibilities also included preparing helicopters and fighter jets with various types of explosive munitions and conducting the technical inspections and operational preparations required before takeoff. They were also tasked with identifying locations and coordinates, preparing target data, providing it to pilots and guiding them during missions.
The source added that the pilots also participated in transporting officers of the ousted regime to combat areas and positions.
Earlier on Thursday, Internal Security Forces in Latakia, in cooperation with the Counterterrorism Branch, arrested nine pilots involved in war crimes against the Syrian people through bombardment and attacks that resulted in large numbers of deaths and injuries and caused extensive damage to cities and towns, as well as the displacement of residents and destruction of homes, facilities and civilian infrastructure.
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