The moment an Israeli missile crashed into a Syrian Pantsir-S1 combat vehicle
The missile was launched in response to Syrian air defenses targeting Israeli fighter jets that were conducting airstrikes against Iranian targets on Syrian territory.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense yesterday released a video of a Delilah cruise missile hitting a Pantsir-S1 combat vehicle in service with the Syrian air defense force.Southfrontreport
| Israeli missiles destroy Syrian Pantsir-S1 complex. Video:IAF |
Israeli fighter jets carried out a large-scale airstrike on the early morning of May 10 against targets of the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria. This was considered a response after the Quds Force launched 20 rockets into the Israeli-controlled area of the Golan Heights on May 9.
"Despite being warned in advance, Syrian air defense forces still opened fire on Israeli aircraft carrying out the airstrikes. In response, the Israeli air force launched missiles at Syrian air defense complexes. Israeli fighters returned safely to base," the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.
One of Syria’s most advanced Pantsir-S1 systems was hit in the retaliation. The final moments of the ill-fated Pantsir-S1 were captured by an infrared camera on the Delilah missile before it crashed into its target.
In the video, the Syrian Pantsir-S1 complex appears to be in a state of combat readiness when it is tracked and targeted by a Delilah cruise missile. Its radar is not working, and the gun barrel and missile launcher are also in a fixed position that is only used when marching.
A Syrian soldier rushed to the control compartment as soon as the Israeli missile hit. Most likely this soldier was killed and the entire Pantsir-S1 combat vehicle was destroyed by the missile warhead.
The Russian Defense Ministry said 28 Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft took part in the airstrike.on Iranian military targets near the capital Damascus and southern Syria."Syrian air defenses shot down more than half of the missiles when they counterattacked," the Russian military said.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the attack killed at least 23 people, including five Syrian government soldiers and 18 members of allied forces.
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Israeli targets in the airstrike in the early morning of May 10. Graphics:IDF. |
The Delilah missile is designed to attack fixed and mobile targets with high precision, ensuring a hit within a one-meter radius around the aiming point. Unlike conventional cruise missiles that only fly to pre-programmed targets before launch, Delilah is capable of changing its course and hovering over the suspected target area. A thermal imaging seeker at the tip of the missile will help the weapon control officer identify the target or order the missile to be destroyed.
