Report: Huge U.S. Spy Aircraft Flies Off Lebanon for Third Time

A huge U.S. surveillance aircraft of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon type has been spotted flying off the Lebanese and Syrian coasts for three times in three weeks now, a media report said on Sunday.

“On August 30, a spy plane of the same type flew near the Russian Hmeimem airbase on Syria's coast,” the pro-Damascus, Beirut-based al-Mayadeen television reported.

“What's new in the movement of the aircraft, which likely took off today from the U.S. base in Italy's Sicily, is that it flew in a straight line once it reached the area off the Lebanese coast before changing its course in a half-circle motion in an area between Sidon and Jounieh,” al-Mayadeen said.

“It then flew in a straight line towards the Syrian coast before changing its course anew in a full circle motion above the marine area between Hama and Latakia,” the TV network added.

According to the U.S. Navy, Boeing and other sources, the P-8A is armed with missiles, mines, torpedoes, bombs, and a High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon system.

The older P-8 type conducts anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, shipping interdiction and an electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) role. This involves carrying torpedoes, depth charges, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It is also able to drop and monitor sonobuoys.