IDF hustles to prevent Syria from following in Lebanon's footsteps

Syria’s air defense systems launched some 150 surface-to-air missiles at Israel Air Force aircraft, dozens of them in the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 20 during a massive Israeli air raid on infrastructure targets in Syria. “Such a quantity of surface-to-air missiles is never fired against any air force anywhere in the world,” a senior Israeli military source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “We are very glad that despite them, our planes were not damaged and we were not prevented from successfully hitting our targets.”

Two days after the Israeli attack, Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin and his American colleague US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein flew together in an Israel F15 during the annual five-nation Blue Flag military exercise. It was the first such joint flight for the two air force commanders. Goldfein was treated to an aerial view of the country and its borders, including an overflight of Jerusalem, and was briefed by Norkin on developments along the active fronts of the Israel Air Force.