2011 Syrian Civil War

SCALP-EG in the 2011 Syrian Civil War

French Rafale and Mirage aircraft launched nine SCALP missiles during the April 13-14, 2018 U.S., UK, and French strikes against Syrian government chemical-weapons-related sites near Homs.

Weapon profileSCALP-EG
SideU.S., UK, and French strike forcesRoleLong-Range Strike
SCALP-EG, Air-launched cruise missile, Munitions - 2011 Syrian Civil War
Image source: File:Storm Shadow p1220865.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
French aircraft launched nine SCALP missiles during the April 2018 strike phase of the 2011 Syrian Civil War.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing

The launch aircraft were French Rafales and Mirages.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing

Two SCALP missiles were allocated to the Him Shinshar chemical-weapons storage facility and seven to the Him Shinshar bunker facility.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing

The SCALP use was part of a one-night U.S., UK, and French strike package against Syrian government chemical-weapons-related facilities.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing, Pentagon Syria Strikes Story

Timeline

SCALP-EG In 2011 Syrian Civil War

  1. Douma attack prompts allied strike planning

    U.S. officials said the Douma chemical-weapons attack prompted the later U.S., UK, and French strikes against Syrian government chemical-weapons-related targets.

    Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing, Pentagon Syria Strikes Story

  2. French aircraft launch SCALP missiles

    French Rafale and Mirage aircraft launched nine SCALP missiles during the coalition strike package, with the SCALP missiles allocated to Him Shinshar target sets west of Homs.

    Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing

  3. French launch problems reported

    Defense News reported that French forces used a backup plan after missile-launch failures during the Syria strike, while still documenting French SCALP employment by Rafale aircraft.

    Sources: France turns to plan B

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

SCALP-EG was used in the 2011 Syrian Civil War during the allied strike operation of April 13-14, 2018. In the Pentagon's post-strike briefing, Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. said French allies flew Rafale and Mirage aircraft and launched nine SCALP missiles as part of the U.S., UK, and French strike package.

The same briefing placed the SCALP missiles at the two Him Shinshar target sets west of Homs: two SCALP land-attack cruise missiles were included in the 22 weapons used against the chemical-weapons storage facility, and seven SCALP missiles were used against the nearby chemical-weapons bunker facility.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing

Timeline

On April 7, 2018, U.S. officials said the chemical-weapons attack in Douma prompted the allied response. During the night of April 13-14, U.S., British, and French forces struck three Syrian government chemical-weapons-related targets: Barzah near Damascus and two Him Shinshar sites west of Homs.

French air-launched SCALP missiles were part of the Him Shinshar strikes rather than the Barzah strike. The official U.S. briefing said all coalition weapons reached their targets, while Defense News later reported French accounts that several planned French missile launches failed and that the mission shifted to a backup launch plan.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing, Pentagon Syria Strikes Story, France turns to plan B

Operational role

In this conflict record, SCALP-EG appears as a French long-range precision-strike weapon used in a one-night coalition operation, not as a weapon transferred to Syrian battlefield parties. The documented user was France, the launch aircraft were French Rafales and Mirages, and the documented target set was the Him Shinshar chemical-weapons storage and bunker facilities west of Homs.

The SCALP launches were part of a larger 105-weapon package that also included U.S. Tomahawk and JASSM missiles, British Storm Shadow missiles, and French naval cruise missiles. The available official evidence documents a single April 2018 use of SCALP-EG in the Syrian Civil War and does not show repeated French SCALP employment in that conflict.

Sources: DoD Syria Strike Briefing, Pentagon Syria Strikes Story, France turns to plan B

Related Weapons by Role

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Sources