Historical eventSeptember 172018

Syria missile strikes (September 2018)

A Russian reconnaissance aircraft carrying 15 people on board is brought down by a Syrian surface-to-air missile over the Mediterranean Sea.

Everything on September 17Original source

In context

When
Monday, September 17 20188 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2010s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2018-09-17.

Place: Syria.

Type: armed conflict.

Deaths reported: 17.

What came before

Part of: Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Syrian Civil War, and Arab–Israeli conflict.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

Israel had conducted multiple air strikes against Iranian and Syrian targets in western Syria throughout 2018, citing concerns about Iranian military expansion near its border. The September 17 strikes were part of this ongoing campaign against what Israel described as weapons facilities and Iranian military infrastructure.

Hours before the strikes, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement to establish a demilitarized zone around Idlib Governorate, which was expected to prevent a major Syrian military offensive in the region. The timing of the Israeli operation coincided with this diplomatic development.

Who was involved

Involved: Israel Defense Forces, Syrian Armed Forces, and Russian Armed Forces.

TimelineAI-assisted

On September 17, 2018, Israeli fighter jets launched missile strikes against targets in western Syria, including a weapons facility near Latakia. Syrian air defense systems activated in response to the Israeli aircraft.

During the Syrian air defense response, a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 military transport aircraft was struck and crashed near Latakia, killing all 15 crew members aboard. Russia immediately blamed Israel for the incident, claiming Israeli jets used the Russian plane as cover to evade Syrian defenses.

What happened

Aftermath On 18 September, Russia summoned the Israeli envoy to Moscow to account for the incident. [ 1 ] On 24 September, defense minister Sergei Shoigu said that within two weeks, the Syrian army would receive S-300 air-defense missile systems to strengthen Syria's combat air defence capabilities.

On 17 September 2018, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted missile strikes against multiple targets in government-controlled western Syria. Syrian air defences responded to the Israeli fighter jets, accidentally shooting a Russian military Il-20, killing 15 crew aboard. Russia blamed Israel for the loss of its plane, accusing the IAF of "hiding behind the Russian aircraft", thereby putting it in the line of fire. The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged striking a Syrian weapons facility,

September 17 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 2001New York Stock Exchange
  2. 2006Őszöd speech
  3. 2006Fourpeaked Mountain
  4. 2008Al-Qaeda in Yemen
  5. 2011Adbusters
  6. 2011Occupy Wall Street
  7. 2013Grand Theft Auto V
  8. 20162016 New York and New Jersey bombings
  9. 2018Israeli Air Force
  10. 2018Syria missile strikes (September 2018)
  11. 2025Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement

Also in 2018

  • September 18CannabisCannabis is legalized in South Africa, through a ruling of the Constitutional Court.
  • May 25General Data Protection RegulationThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becomes enforceable in the European Union.
  • May 25Republic of IrelandIreland votes to repeal the Eighth Amendment of their constitution that prohibits abortion in all but a few cases, choosing to replace it…
  • August 10Horizon AirHorizon Air employee Richard Russell hijacks and performs an unauthorized takeoff on a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 plane at Seattl…
  • August 102017–2019 Romanian protestsAn anti-government rally turns into a riot when members of the Romanian Gendarmerie attack the 100,000 people protesting in front of the…
  • January 3For the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the NetherlanFor the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the Netherlands are closed simultaneously in the wake of a storm.
  • August 14Ponte Morandi collapseThe collapse of the Ponte Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy, left 16 people injured and 43 people killed.
  • June 1Congress of DeputiesFor the first time since its transition to democracy, the Congress of Deputies in Spain passed a motion of no confidence against the gove…

Everything we record for 2018 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Syria missile strikes (September 2018)”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/syria-missile-strikes-september-2018-2018-september-17, accessed October 28, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Syria missile strikes (September 2018) happen?

September 17 2018 — 8 years ago, on a Monday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.