Changes

===Syria===

===Syria===

The MiG-23 had a poor record against [[Israel]]i aircraft, but, contrary to earlier reports, [[Syria]]n Floggers did score some successes.  Soon after they became operational, in April 1974 (a time of undeclared conflict between Syria and Israel similar to the [[War of Attrition]]), MiG-23 pilot Captain al-Masry was on a weapons test flight when he detected eight Israeli [[F-4 Phantom]]s and attacked.  He fired three air-to-air missiles, two of which hit and downed their targets, the first kills for the MiG-23.  As the formation scattered, he attempted to engage another F-4, but was hit by two missiles (which may have come from a Syrian [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site!), breaking his plane in two and forcing him to eject.  Though injured, Al-Masry was recovered safely and decorated for his actions in the face of over-whelming odds.  Syria used its Floggers sparingly after that, and it wasn’t until April 1981 that they saw action again.  Patrolling MiG-23 pilots shot down two IAF [[A-4 Skyhawk]]s that were bombing [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] positions in [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_273.shtml Early MiG-23M/MS Floggers in Action]</ref>

The MiG-23 had a poor record against [[Israel]]i aircraft, but, contrary to earlier reports, [[Syria]]n Floggers did score some successes.  Soon after they became operational, in April 1974 (a time of undeclared conflict between Syria and Israel similar to the [[War of Attrition]]), MiG-23 pilot Captain al-Masry was on a weapons test flight when he detected eight Israeli [[F-4 Phantom]]s and attacked.  He fired three air-to-air missiles, two of which hit and downed their targets, the first kills for the MiG-23.  As the formation scattered, he attempted to engage another F-4, but was hit by two missiles (which may have come from a Syrian [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site!), breaking his plane in two and forcing him to eject.  Though injured, Al-Masry was recovered safely and decorated for his actions in the face of overwhelming odds.  Syria used its Floggers sparingly after that, and it wasn’t until April 1981 that they saw action again.  Patrolling MiG-23 pilots shot down two IAF [[A-4 Skyhawk]]s that were bombing [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] positions in [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_273.shtml Early MiG-23M/MS Floggers in Action]</ref>

Floggers were more prominent in the 1982 Lebanon War (Operation Peace for Galilee), when they and MiG-21s attempted to challenge the IAF in force, resulting in one of the largest aerial battles in post-WWII history.  On June 7, a MiG-23 became the first Syrian loss of the war when it was downed by an [[F-15 Eagle]], while another Flogger pilot claimed to have shot down an [[F-16]] on the same day.<ref>''Israeli F-15 Eagles in Combat'', by Shlomo Aloni, Osprey Publishing, 2006</ref>  The Syrians claimed that their MiG-23s downed four more F-16s and two F-4s during the four day aerial battle, although these claims remain unconfirmed.<ref>[http://backfiretu-22m.tripod.com/id11.html The MiG-23 Combat Record]</ref>  Israeli F-15s and F-16s shot down approximately 25 MiG-23s.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_270.shtml Israeli Air-to-Air Victories since 1974]</ref>

Floggers were more prominent in the 1982 Lebanon War (Operation Peace for Galilee), when they and MiG-21s attempted to challenge the IAF in force, resulting in one of the largest aerial battles in post-WWII history.  On June 7, a MiG-23 became the first Syrian loss of the war when it was downed by an [[F-15 Eagle]], while another Flogger pilot claimed to have shot down an [[F-16]] on the same day.<ref>''Israeli F-15 Eagles in Combat'', by Shlomo Aloni, Osprey Publishing, 2006</ref>  The Syrians claimed that their MiG-23s downed four more F-16s and two F-4s during the four day aerial battle, although these claims remain unconfirmed.<ref>[http://backfiretu-22m.tripod.com/id11.html The MiG-23 Combat Record]</ref>  Israeli F-15s and F-16s shot down approximately 25 MiG-23s.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_270.shtml Israeli Air-to-Air Victories since 1974]</ref>