THE AIR BATTLE OF TARTUS: The Israeli Aerial Ambush That Shot Down 8 MiGs

My videos often highlight historical dilemmas. Should we spend money on a flawed aeroplane to fill a capability gap for a few years? Should I get into a turning fight with that MiG? Should we try to shoot down that runaway aircraft or risk it crashing down on a city? On the 13th of September 1973 the commanders of the Syrian Air Force faced such a dilemma. Prepared for war, they detected two RF-4E Phantoms streaking towards the ports at which military cargo was being unloaded. They knew that this was probably an ambush that would cost them planes and pilots. But they couldn't afford to let details of their readiness fall into Israeli hands. This video goes into detail about the decision they made and the fight that ensued. It also highlights the preferred air-to-air tactics of the elite IDF/AF formations that would be tasked with establishing air superiority in the Yom Kippur war. I hope you find this analysis interesting. I recognise in posting it that even fifty years on there is great depth of feeling about this conflict. As a reminder, this channel is focused on aircraft, pilots, weapons and tactics. If in covering those topics I have inadvertently misrepresented information then I apologise. Constructive comments are always very much appreciated and I learn a lot from them.