Russian Air Force operating over Syria

[Richard from Rotterdam]

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34256389

Syria conflict: Russia 'to continue Assad military aid'

26 minutes ago
From the section Middle East

Picture released by Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Russian plane carrying humanitarian aid being unloaded at Martyr Bassil al-Assad international airport in Latakia. 12 Sept 2015Image copyrightAFP

This picture released by the official Syrian news agency, Sana, shows one of the Russian planes in Latakia


Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged continued military support for Syria's Bashar al-Assad despite growing concerns over Moscow's role in the war.
Mr Putin urged other countries to join Russia in sending "military-technical assistance".
He said the influx refugees to Europe would have been "even bigger" without Russian support for Syria's government.
The US and its Western allies oppose President Assad, and say that backing him risks prolonging the conflict.
But Moscow has been a key ally of Mr Assad during the bloody civil war, which began in 2011.
It says military equipment is being sent to Syria to help the government combat the so-called Islamic State.

Refugees
President Putin said on Tuesday: "We support the government of Syria… in countering the terrorist aggression.
"We provide and will continue to provide it with the necessary military technical assistance. And we urge other countries to join us."

Speaking at defence summit in Tajikistan, Mr Putin also said the situation in Syria would have been "worse than in Libya" had Russia not been supporting its leadership.
European countries have been struggling to cope with thousands of people arriving at their borders after fleeing the conflict.

President Putin's comments come after the US expressed concern at Russia's recent movements near Syria's coastal city of Latakia.
Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said on Monday that a steady flow of people and equipment suggested that Moscow was planning to establish a "forward air operating base" there.

'Humanitarian aid'
US officials also fear that the stepped-up Russian support will strengthen the Syrian government at a time when it has been losing on the battlefield and will complicate efforts to find a political solution, the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in New York reports.
Russia has denied building up their presence in Syria, although Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that Russia would send more help to Syria if requested.
Syrian and Russian state media said on Saturday that two Russian cargo planes with 80 tonnes of humanitarian aid landed in Syria.
The planes reportedly flew into an airbase near Latakia - a stronghold of President Assad. Russia's defence ministry said the plane was carrying materials for setting up a tent camp for refugees.

Last week, officials in Washington quoted by Reuters said Moscow had sent more aircraft and two tank landing ships to Russia's naval base in the Syrian coastal city of Tartus.
They also said a small number of naval infantry forces had been deployed.
The war between President Assad's regime and various rebel groups has so far killed at least 240,000 people and displaced millions.

[Jan H]

Yesterday at Latakia, Al Assad airport, Syria!
I would say 4x Su-30SM.

[FNF Rafale]

Yesterday at Latakia, Al Assad airport, Syria!
I would say 4x Su-30SM.

The answer is in your link ... Hummm...
Better when the original is bigger
http://slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn/k/sli ... 0.html#p=1

[hammarö]

Interesting information.

Latakia air base is one of the Syrias air bases without HAS (hardened air shelters).

On base should be around 20 helicopters, several Mi-14.

Rumours in the news were right, that the first Russian air fighters have landed. These sources indicated MiG-29 and Yak-130.

Were is also information that the Syrian Free Army pressure against the Syrian med coast. Indicating the Russian Marine Brigade from Sevastapol defend the Latakia air base.

[Glidepath]

breaking new:
US suddenly revised its Syria policy completely.
"now seeks talks with both Russians and Iranians to deal with situation in Syria (IS)"
"and Assad does not have to go soon."

[hammarö]

New York Times and Washington Post are now reporting 28 Russian combat aircraft in Syria, 24 more than earlier. Type not specified.

They are also reporting several helicopters delivered in Latakia.

On satellite pictures several new taken areas visible showing new tents and several main battle tanks and BTR vehicles.

Report of soldiers in Russian newpapers protest against deployment to Syria.

[FNF Rafale]

For those who still doubt about the situation...
Just check this image...
https://www.stratfor.com/sites/default/ ... k=C8MhbzsQ
Marc

[hammarö]

New York Times.

Russia Expands Fleet in Syria With Jets That Can Attack Targets on Ground

By ERIC SCHMITT and NEIL MacFARQUHAR SEPT. 21, 2015

WASHINGTON — Russia has sharply increased the number of combat aircraft at an air base near Latakia, Syria, giving its forces a new ability to strike targets on the ground in the war-stricken country.

Over the weekend, Russia deployed a dozen Su-24 Fencer and a dozen Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack planes, bringing to 28 the number of warplanes at the base, a senior United States official said on Monday. Until the weekend, the only combat planes there had been four Flanker air-to-air fighters.

The deployment of some of Russia’s most advanced ground attack planes and fighter jets as well as multiple air defense systems at the base near the ancestral home of President Bashar al-Assad appears to leave little doubt about Moscow’s goal to establish a military outpost in the Middle East. The planes are protected by at least two or possibly three SA-22 surface-to-air, antiaircraft systems, and unarmed Predator-like surveillance drones are being used to fly reconnaissance missions.

(http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/inte ... index.html)

[hammarö]

Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/che ... 2867487424

[FNF Rafale]

New York Times.

Russia Expands Fleet in Syria With Jets That Can Attack Targets on Ground

By ERIC SCHMITT and NEIL MacFARQUHAR SEPT. 21, 2015

WASHINGTON — Russia has sharply increased the number of combat aircraft at an air base near Latakia, Syria, giving its forces a new ability to strike targets on the ground in the war-stricken country.

Over the weekend, Russia deployed a dozen Su-24 Fencer and a dozen Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack planes, bringing to 28 the number of warplanes at the base, a senior United States official said on Monday. Until the weekend, the only combat planes there had been four Flanker air-to-air fighters.

The deployment of some of Russia’s most advanced ground attack planes and fighter jets as well as multiple air defense systems at the base near the ancestral home of President Bashar al-Assad appears to leave little doubt about Moscow’s goal to establish a military outpost in the Middle East. The planes are protected by at least two or possibly three SA-22 surface-to-air, antiaircraft systems, and unarmed Predator-like surveillance drones are being used to fly reconnaissance missions.

(http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/inte ... index.html)

For ME analysts, SA-22 are not deployed to protect russian planes of a non-existing islamists aerial threat. It is a screen of fog.
Placing the latest SA version on Syrian ground is a way for a long-term settlement, in case of a future israelian intervention ...
This why Israelian minister is concerned and visiting Putin today

[Coati]

The dozen Soviet Su-25s are confirmed with satellite images, parked next to the previously spotted 4 Su-30.

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/20 ... n-latakia/

[Gryni]

Over the weekend, Russia deployed a dozen Su-24 Fencer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ri-sc2d7CM

[Coati]

The 12 Fencers are now also visible on satellite images, published by Janes. Parked next to the Su-30s and Su-25s. Can't show the link, but you can google pictures which will show them (google Su-24 Syria for the past 24 hrs).

[hammarö]

One of the Su-30SM is red 24 RF-95003 10MK51105 based Chita Domna in Eastern Military District. Two others are Bort 04 och 05 both blue. There is a mixture of blue and red Borts in the unit. Se pictures

https://en.informnapalm.org/su-30sm-fig ... -in-syria/

Other web sides have the 12 Su-24 with the 12 Su-25.

The forces seems strengthen the air defence on hills. Syria bought several Chinese radars, earlier on place after the Med coast.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

Earlier in the week of course Russia and Israel have made arrangements their rules of engagement in case Israel decides to bomb inside Syria. Definitely means trigger happy crews will have to think thrice before engaging any airborne blips on radar screens. But if the Russians have brought their S-300 or better radars with, then it especially gets risky for Dutch F-16s over Syria.