Russian airstrikes in Syria


 * ''See also Russian deployment in Syria

In September 2015 Russia deployed a large contingent or air and land forces to Syria. On September 30 Russia launched airstrikes on ISIS, al-Nusra Front and other rebel groups, including ones created and supported by the US. The move came as a surprise to US officials and has been criticized by US proxy groups, including the White Helmets.

As of October 2, 2015 the Russian strike force consists of over 50 aircraft, including twelve Su-24s, twelve Su-25s, four Su-30s, six Su-34s and a number of helicopters.

Map

 * Russian airstrikes in Syria by @Radicalenzyme
 * ''Interactive map of Russian airstrikes in Syria. Map will be continually updated. Twitter.com/Radicalenzyme

Video

 * Новейшие бомбардировщики СУ-34 вернулись с боевого задания в Сирии - Новости, Oct 1, 2015
 * Воздушная операция российской авиации в Сирийской Арабской Республике - Russian MoD playlist on YouTube

Targeting CIA-sponsored rebels

 * Russian Airstrike in Syria Targeted CIA-Backed Rebels, U.S. Officials Say - Adam Entous, The Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2015
 * Western-backed Syrian rebel group says hit by Russian air strikes - Dasha Afanasieva, Reuters, Sep 30, 2015
 * ''"The northern countryside of Hama has no presence of ISIS at all and is under the control of the Free Syrian Army," Major Jamil al-Saleh, who defected from the Syrian army in 2012, told Reuters via Skype.
 * ''Saleh said his group had been supplied with advanced anti-tank missiles by foreign powers opposed to Assad.
 * ''"In the early morning this aircraft conducted air strikes in Latamneh city. One targeted a civilian area, and the other targeted al-Izza," Saleh said, referring to his group which he said were set up around two years ago and has 1,500 fighters.
 * With One Bombing Run Russia Gets the US to Acknowledge CIA’s “Covert” Regime Change Forces - emptywheel, October 1, 2015
 * US, Russia To Deconflict in Syria. According to TASS version, American position was that military activity should be focused on ISIS; and that Russian strikes were not in ISIS stronghold areas; but Pentagon has 'no information' that strikes against pro-American/Western rebels already occurred. (According to Syrian and Russian sources, strikes may be supporting planned Syrian army advance in Hama province).
 * Russian Airstrikes in Syria Targeted 'NATO Created Mercenaries' - Sputnik, October 1, 2015 (The headline kind of says it all.)
 * Russia bombs CIA-trained Syrian rebels - Reuters, October 2, 2015
 * ''Hassan Haj Ali, head of the Liwa Suqour al-Jabal rebel group that is part of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters one of the targets was his group's base in Idlib province, struck by about 20 missiles in two separate raids. His fighters had been trained by the CIA in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, part of a program Washington says is aimed at supporting groups that oppose both Islamic State and Assad.
 * ''"Russia is challenging everyone and saying there is no alternative to Bashar," Haj Ali said. He said the Russian jets had been identified by members of his group who once served as Syrian air force pilots.
 * ''The group is one of at least three foreign-backed FSA rebel factions to say they had been hit by the Russians in the last two days.
 * "They're Hopping Mad In The US And Saudi Arabia": Russian Strikes In Syria Spark Epic Western Media Propaganda Blitz - ZeroHedge, October 2, 2015

Ltamenah cave compound
Tajamu Ala'azza" HQ in Ltamenah (location)
 * إستهداف أحد المقرات (Targeting a headquarters) - تجمع العزة, Sep 30, 2015
 * Russian Su-24 bombers hit the 1st Coastal Division (Forqat al-Awwal As-Sahli), a US sponsored "moderate rebel" group. The target is an underground bunker with ventilation shafts. See video @1:24 -- Also note cave entrance at 0:30.
 * الطيران الروسي يقصف مواقع للجيش الحر في ريف حماة بحسب مايؤكده الرائد جميل الصالح (Russian aviation bombed FSA sites in Hama, according to Maj. Jamil Saleh Maaakdh) - Mahmoud al-Hamwi, Sep 30, 2015
 * Воздушные удары по объектам террористической группировки ИГИЛ (Air strikes against targets of the terrorist group ISIL) - Russian Defence Ministry

3-level headquarters

 * First struck at daytime on September 30. See MoD video at 0:27
 * Struck again at nighttime on the morning of October 1. The first strike was not very accurate, as seen by the craters left on the field. See MoD video at start

Mountain Hawks Brigade training camp

 * Video shows Russian air raids affect the "MODERATE OPPOSITION" factions in the province of Idlib - Eldorar Alshamia, October 1, 2015
 * Video: عدسة الدرر الشامية ترصد الغارات الروسية على تجمع صقور الجبل بريف إدلب (Levantine Pearls reports on Russian raids on the Mountain Hawks Brigade Brive in Idlib) - October 1, 2015

Rebel allegations

 * Syrian rebels say Russia targets them rather than Islamic State - Anne Barnard, The New York Times, September 30, 2015 (mirror)
 * ''“They are the most violent strikes,” says a man filming the grim aftermath of what he asserts was a Russian air attack on the town of Talbiseh, in the Homs province of Syria. “This is the Russian criminal regime.”


 * Russian fighter jet SU-25 shot down by Syrian rebels in Hama - Murad Gamzayev, Oct 1, 2015
 * Video at 21s shows maybe a ground-to-air missile exploding and a pilot ejecting.

Talbisah

 * ''As claimed by rebels


 * تلبيسة لحظة استهداف المدينة بالصوراخ الفراغية من الطيران الروسي 30 9 2015 (Paneling moment the city targeting Balsourakh stereochemistry of the Russian Aviation 30 9 2015) - Talbisah News, September 30, 2015
 * تلبيسة صلاة الجنازة على بعض شهداء مجزرة الطيران الروسي 30 9 2015 (Paneling funeral prayers for the martyrs of the massacre of some Russian Aviation 30 9 2015)

Analysis

 * Russian Military Intervention in Syria - Gordon M. Hahn, September 30, 2015
 * No ISIS Where Russia Is Bombing–Except Last Week, When ISIS Was Killing Gay Men There? - Jim Naureckas, FAIR, September 30, 2015
 * Putin Hijacks Obama’s War on ISIS - The Daily Beast, September 30, 2015
 * The Real Story Behind Putin’s Syria Strikes - POLITICO.COM
 * Ron Paul - Assad must go, Assad must stay? Ron Paul Liberty Report
 * Russia's Air War in Syria: Its Organisation and Purpose - Daniel Fielding, Russia Insider, October 2, 2015