Syrian Opposition Forces Take Control of MiG-23s, L-39s at Nayrab Air Base

Syrian opposition forces have reportedly gained control of MiG-23 multi-role fighters and L-39 combat training aircraft at Nayrab Air Base, located within Aleppo International Airport.

The development was revealed through video footage shared by the OSINT project Mintel World.

The aircraft, previously under the control of Syrian government forces, are said to be in a non-operational condition. Analysts believe these planes, numbering at least eight MiG-23s and twelve L-39s according to satellite imagery, primarily serve as sources of spare parts rather than operational assets.

The MiG-23 has been central to Syria's air capabilities since the mid-1970s, with around 170 units delivered by the Soviet Union, including MS, ML, MLD, BN, and UB variants. During the Lebanon War, Syrian MiG-23s engaged Israeli aircraft but lost 24 jets in a single conflict (6 MiG-23MS, 4 MiG-23MF, and 14 MiG-23BN), with 10 lost in one day (4 MiG-23MF and 6 MiG-23MS). Reports suggest they downed F-15s and F-4s during this period.

In 2008, Syria acquired 33 MiG-23MLDs from Belarus, but many were likely used for spare parts. MiG-23s were heavily deployed in the early civil war, with occasional successes, such as downing two Jordanian Selex ES Falco drones in 2017 near Da’ra using R-24R/R-23 missiles. Losses were significant; on March 23, 2014, a MiG-23ML was shot down by a Turkish F-16C after violating airspace during a strike near Kasab. The pilot ejected and survived.

The fleet faced its heaviest losses during the U.S. missile strike on Shayrat Airbase, which destroyed 6 to 15 aircraft. These attacks, combined with heavy losses and maintenance issues, reduced MiG-23 operations, although they remained active in the early war years.

Currently, the fleet’s condition is unclear, with at least 18 jets lost and likely fewer than a dozen operational. The loss of donor aircraft has further strained the fleet’s capabilities.