Abdullah al-Muhaysini(Top sharia judge of the Army of Conquest; later a senior member of Tahrir al-Sham) Abu Jaber(Second Emir ofAhrar al-Sham, First Emir and currentShura head of Tahrir al-Sham) Salahuddin Shishani †(Former al-Nusra Front commander and current Tahrir al-Sham top military commander)[25] Abu Salman al-Belarusi (Abu Rofiq) †(Leader of Malhama Tactical)[26] Abu Ubeidah al-Kansafra †(Top military commander of Tahrir al-Sham)[27][unreliable source?] 12 unknown military commanders †[28]
Basil Zamo †(1st Coastal Division chief of staff)[29] Abu Yahia al-Hamawi[30](Leader of Ahrar al-Sham) Nimr Al-Shukri †(Top military commander of Ahrar al-Sham)[31] Zahran Alloush†(Emir of Jaysh al-Islam) Abu Rida al-Turkistani †(Leader of TIP)[32]
At the onset of the intervention, the Syrian government controlled only 26% of Syrian territory.[135] Although Russia initially portrayed its intervention as a "war against terrorism" solely targeting theIslamic State,[127][136] Russia employedscorched-earth methods against civilian areas andSyrian opposition strongholds opposed to IS andAl-Qaeda.[b][137] Weeks after the intervention began, Russian officials disclosed that PresidentVladimir Putin's chief objectives were maintaining the alliedBa'athist government inDamascus and capturing territories fromAmerican-backedFree Syrian militias, with a broader geo-political objective of rolling back U.S. influence.[138] In a televised interview in October 2015, Putin said that the military operation had been thoroughly prepared in advance. He defined Russia's goal in Syria as "stabilising the legitimate power in Syria and creating the conditions for political compromise".[139] In 2016 alone, more than 80% of Russianaerial attacks targeted opposition militias fighting theIslamic State.[136] Despite Russia's extensive bombing ofopposition strongholds, the territory under the Assad regime's actual control shrank from 26% of Syria in 2015 to 17% in early 2017.[135]
TheSyrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) andViolations Documentation Centre (VDC) stated that from its inception in September 2015 until the end of February 2016, Russian air strikes killed at least 2,000 civilians. SNHR report stated that civilian deaths from the Russian offensive had exceeded those caused by the Islamic State and the Syrian Army since Russian operations began.[144][145] TheUK-based pro-opposition[146][147]Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) issued a slightly lower estimate: at least 1,700 civilians, including more than 200 children.[144] Weapons used includedunguided bombs,cluster bombs, incendiaries similar towhite phosphorus andthermobaric weapons.[148][149][150] By the end of April 2018, the SOHR documented that Russian bombings directly killed more than 7,700 civilians, about a quarter of them children, apart from 4,749opposition fighters and 4,893 IS fighters.[151] The Russian campaign has been criticised by numerous international bodies for indiscriminateaerial bombings across Syria that targetschools and civilian infrastructures andcarpet bombing of cities likeAleppo. The findings ofBMJ Global Health and a UN investigation report published in 2020 revealed that theRuAF also "weaponized health-care" through itshospital bombardment campaigns; by pursuing a deliberate policy of bombing ambulances, clinical facilities,hospitals and all medical infrastructure.[c] Russia also reportedly employeddouble tap strikes to targetrelief workers.[152]
The intervention polarized governments. Countries with ties to Russia, as well as Israel, Jordan and Egypt, either voiced support or stayed neutral, while the US , as well as Turkey and most golf states, were critical, denouncing Russia for its role in the war and its complicity with theSyrian regime's war crimes.Human Rights Watch andAmnesty International stated that Russia was committing war crimes and deliberately targeting civilians.[153][154] The United States government imposedeconomic sanctions against Russia for supporting the Syrian government.[155] Officials at theUnited Nations condemned the Russian intervention and stated that Russia was committing war crimes.[156] Russian authorities dismissed this denunciation, including accusations of "barbarism", labeling them as false and politically motivated,[157] thereby eliciting further condemnation from governments that support the rebel groups.[156]
In November 2024, the renewal of Russian airstrikes failed to halt theSyrian opposition offensives across the country. In the wake of Syrian opposition advances, and the widespread collapse of Syrian government forces, Russia began to withdraw their forces, and thefall of the Assad regime followed in December.[158] Russian forces in Syria at that time consisted of special forces, base security and an aviation unit.[159]
Following his successfulannexation of Crimea fromUkraine and the temporary freezing of thewar in Donbas,Vladimir Putin turned his attention to Syria in 2015.Russian intelligence reports estimated thatAssad government forces effectively controlled a meagre 10% of Syrian territory. Ba'athist forces were steadily losing cities and towns to rebel forces, and the survival of the Assad regime appeared increasingly uncertain. Under the advice ofChief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and Russian military elites, Putin launched a full-scale military intervention of Syria to prevent the fall of their ally,Bashar al-Assad, and Syria's subsequent entry into the Western sphere of influence. Other objectives included showcasing Russian military prowess by guarding its naval port inTartus and project Russia's expanding influence acrossWest Asia,North Africa,Europe andEastern Mediterranean. To avoid a repeat of the disastrousInvasion of Afghanistan, Russia implemented anirregular warfare strategy, sub-contracting ground operations to Syrian Armed Forces, allied foreign militias and RussianPMCs likeWagner. However, Russia would retain control over air operations.[162]
The Assad regime had lost vast swathes of territories by 2015, including the governates ofIdlib,Aleppo,Raqqa,Deir Az Zor,Al-Hasakah,Deraa andQuneitra. Assad's forces had also been pushed out of theHama,Damascus andHoms provinces by theSyrian opposition.[163] According to Russian and Syrian officials, in July 2015,Assad made a formal request to Russia for air strikes combatinginternational terrorism, while laying out Syria's military problems.[164][165] According to media reports with reference to anonymous sources,[164] after a series of majorsetbacks suffered by the Syrian government forces in the first half of 2015, Russia and Syria agreed to intensify Russian involvement.Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran'sQuds Force visitedMoscow in July to work out the details of the joint campaign (Soleimani's visit was denied by Russian officials[166][167]).
In August 2015, Russia began to send Russian-operated warplanes,T-90 tanks and artillery, as well as combat troops to anairbase near the port city ofLatakia in Syria.[168][169] On 26 August 2015, a treaty was signed between the two countries which permitted Russia to use Syria's Hmeimim airport free of charge, indefinitely.[170] Ratified by Russia's parliament in October 2016, it also grants Russian personnel and their family members jurisdictional immunity and other privileges as envisaged byVienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.[171] In September 2015, warships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet reached the eastern Mediterranean.[172]
At the end of September, a joint information centre in Baghdad was set up byIran, Iraq, Russia and Syria to coordinate their operations against ISIL[citation needed] (in the newsmedia the centre is also referred to as "Joint Operations Room in Baghdad known as the 4 + 1" implying the Lebanese Shia militiaHezbollah, in addition to the 4 states[173]). According to Russian foreign ministerSergey Lavrov's statement made in mid-October 2015, prior to the start of its operations in Syria, Russia invited the United States to join the Baghdad-based information center but received what he called an "unconstructive" response.[174][175] According toAlexander Yakovenko,Ambassador of Russia to the United Kingdom, the Russian government received a similar rebuttal from the UK government.[176] In late December 2015, Turkey's presidentRecep Erdogan said that he had declined Putin's offer to join this alliance as he "cannot sit alongside a president [Assad] whose legitimacy is distrustful[sic]."[177]
Before and after the operation in Syria, Russian analysts said that Russia's military build-up in Syria was aimedinter alia at ending thede facto political and diplomatic isolation that the West had imposed on Putin after his2014 invasion of Ukraine.[182][183][184][185] At the onset of Russian military intervention in September 2015, theAssad regime merely controlled about a quarter of Syrian territories and was widely perceived to be heading towards an imminent collapse.[135]
One of the drivers behind Russia's military involvement in defense of Assad's clan in Syria was preventing any gas supplies to Europe and Turkey that would compete with Russian supplies.[186] In an October 2016 TV interview, GeneralLeonid Ivashov said that Russia's engagement in the conflict would allow it to block proposed pipelines between the Middle East and Europe, and thus ensure the dominance ofGazprom.[187][188] In 2024 after fall of Assad Russian journalist Irina Alksnis, writing for RIA, justified Russia's intervention nearly in the same words, listing "ruining Western plans of anti-Russian games in the energy sector" among the benefits.[189]
While Russian officials falsely claimed that the strikes were solely directed against IS bases, the location of bombings were inHoms andHama provinces controlled by opposition militias fighting IS. Syrian civil society activists asserted that none of the strikes were against IS, but solely the rebel-held civilian areas, killing 36 civilians, including many children.US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry denounced the targeting of opposition areas during a session with theUN Security Council.Defence SecretaryAsh Carter denounced Russian attacks on opposition-held territories as "doomed to fail."[180]
According toHezbollah media outletAl Mayadeen, the Saudi/Turkish-backedArmy of Conquest[194] around Jisr ash-Shugour was bombed on 1 October by Russian planes; at least 30 airstrikes were carried out.[195] Al-Mayadeen outlet also claimed that on same day, another series of Russian airstrikes targeted theTabqa airbase, which was under the control of theIslamic State organization in the Raqqa region.[196]
Preparation of an aircraft of the Russian Air Force for combat sorties in Syria.Russian multirole fighter Su-30 at the Hmeymim air base.
On 3 October, reports indicated that Hezbollah and Iranian fighters were preparing major ground offensives to be coordinated with Russian airstrikes.[197] According to CNN, the Russian defense ministry said its soldiers bombed nine ISIL positions near the group'sde facto capital in Raqqa. At least 11 were killed in a double strike by Russia in Syria's Idlib province, according to opposition groups.[198]
Russian Navy produced a massive cruise missiles attack from the Caspian Sea on Islamic State targets in Syria
On the morning of 7 October 2015, according to the Russian officials, four warships from theRussian Navy'sCaspian Flotilla launched 263M-14T from Kalibr-NK system[199] cruise missiles that hit 11 targets within Syrian territory. The missiles passed through Iranian and Iraqi airspace in order to reach their targets at a distance of well over about 1,500 kilometres (930 miles).[200] The same day, Syrian ground forces were reported to carry out an offensive under Russian air cover.[201][202] According toCNN citing unnamed United States military and intelligence officials, 4 of 26 cruise missiles on 8 October crashed in Iran, well before reaching their targets in Syria.[203] Russia said all of its missiles hit their targets.[204][205] Iran also denied any missiles had crashed on its territory.[206][207] The Iranian defence ministry dismissed the CNN reports as Western "psychological warfare".[206]
On 8 October 2015, the number of air raids increased significantly up to over 60 sorties a day, a tempo maintained for the next two days.[208] The Russian defense ministry announced on 9 October that up to sixty ISIL targets were hit in the previous 24 hours, killing 300 militants in the most intense strikes so far. One raid targeted aLiwa al-Haqq base in theRaqqa Governorate usingKAB-500KR precision-guided bombs, in which reportedly two senior ISIL commanders and up to 200 militants were killed, despite the lack of any connection between al-Haqq and ISIL. Another destroyed a former prison near Aleppo used by ISIL as a base and munitions depot, killing scores of militants. Rebel training sites in the Latakia and Idlib provinces were reportedly hit as well.[209] Meanwhile, ISIL militants made advances in the Aleppo area on 9 October, seizing several villages in what theAssociated Press called a "lightning attack". The attacks were unencumbered by either Russian or United States-led coalition airstrikes. The ISIL advance came at the expense of rebel groups also targeted by Russian and Syrian forces.[210] In mid-October 2015, a jointRussian-Syrian-Iranian-Hezbollah offensive targeting rebels in Aleppo went ahead.[211][212]
According to pro-opposition citizen journalist groupRaqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, Russia lied about targeting ISIL in the early airstrikes and missiles around Raqqa. Between 17 September and 13 October they counted 36 Russian strikes against only 2 ISIL targets (with 4 ISIL deaths) and 22 civilian targets (with 70 civilian deaths plus injuries) included hospitals, a fire hall, at least one school and a highway fueling station.[213]
On 17 November 2015, in the wake of theRussian jet crash over Sinai[214][215] and theParis attacks, according to the Russian defence minister's public report to the president of Russia Vladimir Putin, Russia employed the Russia-basedTu-160,Tu-95MSM, andTu-22M3 long-rangestrategic bombers firingair-launched cruise missiles to hit what he said were the IS targets in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor as well as targets in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib.[216] The Russian minister of defence said that, pursuant to Putin's orders, the Russian aviation group - which, at the time, comprised more than 50 aircraft - begun further intensifying their campaign.[217] In addition, Putin said he had issued orders for thecruiserMoskva that had been in the eastern Mediterranean since the start of the Russian operations to "work as with an ally",[218][219] with the French naval group led by flagshipCharles de Gaulle that had been on its way to the eastern Mediterranean since early November.[220] The following day, according to the Russian Defence ministry, strikes by long-range bombers firing cruise missiles in the same areas in Syria continued.[221][222] The mass cruise missile strikes carried out against ISIS in Deir Ezzor province on 20 November resulted in the death of more than 600 militants according to the ministry.[223]
A RussianSukhoi Su-24 strike aircraft wasshot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 on 24 November 2015.[224][225] The pilot was shot and killed by Syrian rebels while descending by parachute, and the weapon systems officer was later rescued by Russian forces. A Russian marine was injured during the rescue operation and later died en route to a medical center.[226][227] In the video the rebels shout "Allah Akbar" over the dead body of a Russian pilot.[228] According to Turkey's statements presented to the UN Security Council, two planes, whose nationalities were unknown to them at the time, violated Turkish airspace over theYayladağı province up to 2.19 km (1.36 mi) for 17 seconds.[229] According to Turkey, the planes disregarded multiple warnings and were subsequently fired upon by Turkish F-16s patrolling the area. After the Turkish fire, one plane left Turkish airspace and the other crashed into Syrian territory.[229] The Russian Ministry of Defense denied violating Turkey's airspace, stating they had been flying south of theYayladağı province,[230] providing two maps showing two different stated routes (one including turns and maneuvers described as "impossible").[231]
Before the incident, Russian military jets had repeatedly violated Turkish airspace, causing political tension.[232] A month before the shootdown, on 17 October, the Turkish prime minister warned that Turkey would not hesitate to shoot down airplanes violating its airspace.[233][234]
Russia responded by announcing the deployment of additional air defense weapons in the area and would provide its bombers with fighter jet escorts.[235] On 26 November 2015, deployment ofS-300 andS-400 anti-aircraft systems was reported by Russia's official news media,[97] to Latakia and on board the cruiserMoskva.[236] At around the same time, Russia announced that it was preparing for more jet fighters and a new Russian combat brigade to be stationed atShayrat Airbase in Homs once in service for aiding the Syrian government troops in their ongoingoffensive against ISIL.[237]
A Russian air defense battery in December 2015. APantsir-S1 close-range defense system and two launch vehicles forS-400 long-distance flight missiles at Latakia.The cruiserMoskva operating as part of the Russian Navy task group providing air defence cover in the Eastern Mediterranean; January 2016
On 1 December 2015,The Times, citing local sources and news media, reported that Russia was preparing to expand its military operations in Syria by opening theal-Shayrat airbase near the city of Homs, already home to Russian attack helicopters and a team that had arrived about a month prior.[241][242]
On 8 December, the Russian defence minister announced that aKilo-class submarine,Rostov-on-Don, had launched3M14K cruise missiles while submerged, against ISIL targets inRaqqa Governorate, the first such strike from the Mediterranean Sea.[243] He also reported to the president that pursuant to Putin's order, since 5 December the Russian military had intensified airstrikes in Syria: it was reported that over the three days, Russian aircraft, including Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, had performed over 300 sorties engaging over 600 targets of different type.[244]
On 11 December, in a televised meeting at the Defence ministry Vladimir Putin ordered the military in Syria to "act as tough as possible. Any target that poses a threat to Russian military grouping or ground infrastructure has to be destroyed immediately."[245] He also appeared to suggest that the Russian military was now supporting the anti-governmentFree Syrian Army forces; however, theKremlin spokesman later said that Russia was only supplying weapons to "the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic".[245][246]
On 16 December, Russia's Defence ministerSergey Shoigu speaking to the members of theState Duma behind closed doors, mentioned a possible option of the Russian forces "reaching theEuphrates" in Syria.[247]
On 19 December, Putin commended the performance of the Russian armed forces in Syria; he said that "so far not all of our capabilities have been used" and that "more military means" might be employed there "if deemed necessary".[248][249]
On 21 December, the longestoffensive of the year since Russian forces got involved yielded important gains.[citation needed] According to pro-government sources and social media accounts, these included the recapture of the strategic Khanasser–Ithriya Highway from ISIL and capture of the main rebel strongholds of Al-Hader andKhan Tuman, cutting the Aleppo–Damascus highway and leaving them in control of three-quarters of the southern Aleppo countryside.[250][251][undue weight? –discuss]
On 25 December 2015, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy said that since 30 September 2015 Russian air force had conducted 5,240 sorties in Syria, including 145 sorties by long-range aviation.[252][253] On 27 December 2015, Chief Commander of the Russian Aerospace Force Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev stated that Russian pilots had not once attacked civilian targets in Syria.[254][255]
On 30 December 2015, heavy fighting was reported as the Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes advanced into the southern city ofAl-Shaykh Maskin,[256] which had been held by the rebelSouthern Front since theFirst Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin in December 2014. The Syrian government'soffensive operation that began 28 December 2015[257] and concluded by the end of January 2016 was said to be their first major assault in southern Syria since Russia joined the fight.[256]
In early January 2016, regional diplomats who had assumed Moscow had an understanding with Jordan and Israel not to extend into their sphere of influence were reported to be surprised by the growing Russian role in Syria's south; so were rebels from Syria's Southern Front alliance whose forces were directly supplied by the Military Operations Command, an operations room staffed by Arab and Western military forces, including the US.[258]
On 9 January 2016, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian air strikes in the northwestern town ofMaarrat al-Nu'man had killed about 60 persons, including 23 members of theNusra Front.[259]
On 14 January 2016, the Russian defence ministry said that the first joint bombing mission had been performed by Russian air force Su-25 fighters and Syrian air forceMiG-29 aircraft.[262]
Russia's role was said to be essential in the government's capture, on 24 January 2016, of the town ofRabia, the last major town held by rebels in western Latakia province.[263] The capture of Rabia, part of the government'sLatakia offensive, was said to threaten rebel supply lines from Turkey.[263][264]
At the end of January 2016, Russia, for the first time, deployed fourSu-35S fighter jets, presumably equipped with theKhibinyelectronic countermeasures (ECM) systems,[79] to the Khmeimim base. On 1 February the Russian defence ministry said the aircraft had begun conducting missions in Syria.[79]
A Russian military adviser died in a Syrian hospital on 1 February after suffering severe wounds when a Syrian army training center in Homs Province was shelled.[265] Speaking shortly after the formal start of the UN-mediatedGeneva Syria peace talks on 1 February, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would not stop its air strikes until Russia truly defeated "such terrorist organisations as Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIL″.[266][267]
In early February 2016, intensive Russian strikes contributed to the success of the Syrian army and its allies'offensive operation to the northwest of Aleppo that severed a major rebel supply line to Turkey.[268][269]
On 1 March 2016, Russian foreign ministerSergey Lavrov said that the truce, formally referred to as a "cessation of hostilities",[270] that had been in effect from 27 February 2016 at 00:00 (Damascus time),[271][272] was largely holding and becoming more stable.[273] According to the state–runRIA Novosti's report of 1 March 2016, all the planes at the Russian Khmeimim base had been grounded for four days.[274]
On 1 March, the Russian defense ministry said it had deployed to the Khmeimim base additional radars and drones: three sets of surveillance equipment which included drones and two radar stations.[275]
On 14 March 2016, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that the mission which he had set for the Russian military in Syria was "on the whole accomplished" and ordered withdrawal of the "main part" of the Russian forces from Syria.[276] The move was announced on the day whenpeace talks on Syria resumed in Geneva.[277] The Russian leader, however, did not give a deadline for the completion of the withdrawal.[277] He also said that both Russian military bases in Syria (naval base in Tartus andairbase in Khmeimim) will continue to operate in "routine mode", as the Russian servicemen there will be engaged in monitoring the ceasefire regime.[278]
In mid-March 2016, intensive operations by the Russian forces resumed to support the Syrian government'sbid to recapture the city ofTadmur that includes theUNESCOWorld Heritage Site ofPalmyra,[279][280] which were fully recaptured from ISIS on 27 March.[281] Following the recapture of the city, Russian de-mining teams engaged in the clearing of mines planted by ISIS in the ancient site of Palmyra.[282]
In early May 2016, news media reported that Russian ground forces had set up whatJane's Information Group called a ″forward operating base″ (officially a base for the mining crews) just to the west of the city of Tadmur, and installed an air-defence system to protect the site.[283][284]
In mid-May 2016,Stratfor reported that a Russian air base was attacked and four Russian attack helicopters, 20 supply trucks and one Syrian Mig-25 were destroyed.[285][286][287] However, United States media cited intelligence community sources as believing the destruction was caused by an accidental fuel tank explosion, that the Stratfor analysis was wrong and that there were no indications of an ISIS attack on the airport.[288]
Russian aircraft dropfirebombs in northern Aleppo in June 2016.
On 8 July 2016, a Syrian[289]Mi-25 (a RussianMi-35, according to other unofficial military sources[290]) was destroyed on the ground from a United States-madeBGM-71 TOW[291] east of Palmyra, with two Russian pilots confirmed dead.[292]
On 1 August 2016, a RussianMi-8AMTSh transport helicopter was shot down on its way back to the Khmeimim base from a humanitarian mission to Aleppo by ground fire overJabhat Fateh al-Sham-controlled area in Idlib province. Three crew members and two officers from theRussian Reconciliation Center for Syria were killed in the crush, then their corpses were desecrated by the rebels arrived on the scene.[293]
On 16 August 2016, Russian Tu-22M bombers and Su-34 strike fighters began to use Iran'sHamedan Airbase for conducting raids over Syria.[294][295]
For a period of time, from late June until the end of theSummer Aleppo campaign on 11 September, Russian Aerospace Forces and theRussian naval infantry advisors were heavily involved in the various battles against the rebels and their allies throughout the campaign, according to pro-Assad sources.[296]
Russia's air force took active part in the Syrian government'sre-newed Aleppo offensive that began in late September 2016, one of the consequences being the U.S. government in early October suspending talks on Syria with Russia.[297] The Russian tactics and weapons used in the offensive have been compared to those usedin Grozny against Chechen separatists.[298][299][300][301] The U.S. government publicly stated that Russia was committing ″flagrant violations of international law″ in Syria and urged investigation of war crimes.[302]
Admiral Kuznetsov's jets were reported to be flying off the Syrian coast on 8 November.[306] On 14 November, a MiG-29K crashed en route back to the carrier following a planned mission over Syria,[307] while an Su-33 crashed, again while trying to recover toAdmiral Kuznetsov following a sortie on 5 December.[308]
In late November, satellite images emerged showing several ofAdmiral Kuznetsov's fixed wing aircraft operating fromHmeimim Air Base inLatakia, with suggestions made that the number ofsorties flown from the carrier was lower than had been claimed by the RussianMinistry of Defence. Problems with the ship'sarrestor cables were cited as contributing to the crashed MiG-29K, which was circling the ship when it suffered an engine failure.[309] At around the same time, an image was released by theDutch frigateHNLMS De Ruyter showing theNanuchka-class corvetteMirazh being towed back to theBlack Sea.[310]
On 1 January 2017, Russian and Turkish warplanes conducted joint airstrikes against ISIL as part of theBattle of al-Bab.[312]
On 6 January, the Russian Defense Ministry, with a reference to a Moscow/Ankara-brokered ceasefire effective 30 December 2016, announced the start of a drawdown of its forces from Syria, pursuant to a decision taken by President Putin. The first element scheduled to depart the region was announced to be theAdmiral Kuznetsov battle group.[313][314][315] However, five days afterwards, aFox News report cited ″two U.S. officials″ as saying that additional attack aircraft had been deployed by Russia to its airbase in Syria, namely four Su-25 jets which arrived on 9 January.[316]
On 20 March, it was reported that Russia set up a training base inAfrin Canton to trainYPG units in order to combat terrorism. There were conflicting reports about its location, withReuters reporting it was inJandairis and the pro-governmentAl Masdar News placing it in the village ofKafr Jannah.[317][318] At various times, Afrin was the target of artillery shelling byIslamist rebel groups[319] as well as byTurkey.[320][321][322] In response, Russian troops reportedly stationed themselves in Afrin as part of an agreement to protect the YPG from further Turkish attacks.[323]
Russia scaled back its airstrikes in Syria in January and February, so that for the first time casualties due to US-led coalition airstrikes in Syria and Iraq began to exceed casualties of Russian strikes in Syria. However, strikes increased in March 2017, with a reported 114 incidents with 165–292 reported non-combatant deaths, primarily in Idlib province, Hama and the Damascus eastern suburbs.[324]
In response to thedowning of a Syrian government Su-22 plane by a U.S. fighter jet near the town ofTabqah in Raqqa province on 18 June 2017, Russia announced that U.S.-led coalition warplanes flying west of the Euphrates would be tracked by Russian anti-aircraft forces in the sky and on the ground and treated as targets. Furthermore, the Russian military said they suspended the hotline with their U.S. counterparts based inAl Udeid.[325][326] In the wake of the announcement, Australia suspended military flights in Syria, while media reports speculated that the U.S. might be edging towards a full-on confrontation with Russia and Iran in Syria.[327] Nevertheless, on 27 June 2017, U.S. Secretary of DefenseJim Mattis reassured the press: ″We deconflict with the Russians; it is a very activedeconfliction line. It is on several levels, from thechairman of theJoint Chiefs and the secretary of state with their counterparts in Moscow,General Gerasimov and Minister Lavrov. Then we've got athree-star deconfliction line that is out of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, out of the J5 there. Then we have battlefield deconfliction lines. One of them is three-star again, from our field commander in Baghdad, and one of them is from ourCAOC, our Combined Air Operations Center, for real-time deconfliction.″[328]
On 24 July, the Russian military announced that Russia had begun to deploymilitary police to Syria to monitor a cease-fire in two new safe (de-escalation) zones that had been envisaged in the plan on four safe zones, tentatively agreed upon by Russia, Iran, and Turkey in May,[329][330] and mapped out in early July by Russia, the U.S, and Jordan.[331] Checkpoints and monitoring posts around safe zones in southwest Syria and in Eastern Ghouta were said to have been set up.[332] Another such deployment was effected in early August — north of the city of Homs.[333]
In August 2017, the Russian military announced thatAl-Sukhnah town was captured from ISIS in early August with support of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Russian aviation said they had conducted 28,000 combat missions, and about 90,000 strikes as of late August 2017 during the operation in Syria.[334]
On 5 September 2017, the Russian defence ministry said that the breaking of the three-yearsiege of Deir ez-Zor had been effected with active participation of Russian aviation and navy.[335][336] President Putin congratulated both President Bashar Assad and the Russian commanders on "a very important strategic victory" (in his spokesman's words).[337][338] Humanitarian aid was delivered to pro-government inhabitants of the city by the Russian servicemen.[339] The Russian aviation continued active support of the Syrian forces operating in Deir ez-Zor.[340]
The Russian military on 12 September said that 85 per cent of Syria's territory had been ″liberated from illegal armed formations″ and the operation would continue.[341]
On 16 September, the U.S.-led coalition officials said Russian warplanes had bombed U.S.-backed militants in Deir ez-Zor, U.S. Special Operations Forces advising the SDF being "at most a couple of miles" away from where the bomb struck; the statement was denied by the Russian defence ministry.[342][343][344]
According to the Russian defence ministry, the military police platoon (29 servicemen) deployed as part of the de-escalation observation forces in theIdlib de-escalation zone was on 19 September encircled by rebels, including Jabhat al-Nusra, as a result of theiroffensive against the Syrian troops positioned north and northeast of Hama. The encirclement was breached by Russian forces in a special operation leaving three servicemen of the Russian Special Operations Forces wounded. The Russian ministry stated that according to their intelligence, the rebels' ″offensive was initiated by the US special agencies in order to stop successful advance of the Syrian Arab Army to the east from Deir ez-Zor″.[345][346][347] The Russian ministry's statement on the U.S.' role in the rebels' offensive was the following day endorsed by president Vladimir Putin'sspokesman.[348][349] On 21 September, the Russian MoD, in connection with what it called the U.S.-supported SDF having twice attacked positions of the Syrian Army in the Deir ez-Zor governorate with mortar and rocket fire, said: "Russia unequivocally told the commanders of U.S. forces inAl Udeid Air Base (Qatar) that it will not tolerate any shelling from the areas where the SDF are stationed. Fire from positions in regions [controlled by the SDF] will be suppressed by all means necessary."[350] In early October, the Russian MoD continued to state that the U.S. forces were disguisedly supporting of the ISIL's attacks on Syrian government forces, especially from the area atAl-Tanf, and stated: "If the United States views such operations as unforeseen 'coincidences,' then the Russian air force in Syria is prepared to begin the complete destruction of all such 'coincidences' in the zones under their control."[351][352][353] The MoD statement of 6 October referred to ″unlawful establishment by the U.S. of [Al-Tanf] military base″ and called it ″a 100-kilometre black hole" on the Syria-Jordan border.[354][355]
On 11 December, days after declaring Syria had been "completely liberated" from ISIL and with thecampaign liberating the western bank of the Euphrates in its final days, Russian presidentVladimir Putin visited the Russian base in Syria, where he announced that he had ordered the partial withdrawal of the forces deployed to Syria.[356][357][358] Several hours later, Sergei Shoigu said the troops had already begun to return.[359]
On 26 December, defence minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russia had set about ″forming a permanent grouping" at the Tartus naval facility and the Hmeymim airbase, after president Putin approved the structure and the personnel strength of the Tartus and Hmeymim bases.[360][134] On the same day, the upper chamber of parliament approved the ratification of an agreement between Russia and Syria on expanding the Tartus naval facility, which envisages turning it into a full-fledged naval base.[361] At the end of December 2017,Sergei Shoigu claimed that the Russian military had eliminated several thousand "terrorists", while 48,000 Russian armed forces members had "gained combat experience" during the Russian operation in Syria.[362][363][364]
Following reports about multiple Russian private contractor casualties in theU.S. air and artillery strike on pro-government forces near the town ofKhasham in theDeir ez-Zor Governorate that occurred on 7 February 2018, the contingent of regular Russian forces stationed in Syria appeared to have been reinforced,[85][366] though numerous witnesses of the strike dismissed the reports as untrue and did not confirm Russian mercenary participation.[367] Namely, in mid-February, several Russian newestfifth generationSukhoi Su-57 fighter aircraft were deployed to theKhmeimim air base in Syria; the deployment was interpreted by commentators as a possible response to the deployment of U.S. fifth-generationLockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which took part in the 7 February strike.[368][369][83]
In June and July 2018, Russian forces actively supported the Syrian Army in the successful execution of theSouthern Syria offensive, which resulted in the Syrian government's complete control ofDaraa andQuneitra provinces.[370][371] In August, Russia began to set up observation posts in Quneitra, along the UN-patrolleddemilitarised zone in theGolan Heights; plans for eight such Russian-manned posts were announced.[372] By mid-August, four suchmilitary police-manned posts along theBravo line were set up.[373][374][375]
At the end of August, the Russian media reported Russia was building up the largest ever naval grouping in eastern Mediterranean that included thecruiserMarshal Ustinov and all the threeAdmiral Grigorovich class frigates in service, including the latestAdmiral Makarov.[376] Speaking after talks with the Saudi Arabian foreign ministerAdel al-Jubeir in Moscow on 29 August, Russia's foreign minister, in a reference to the Idlib rebel-held enclave, said, "[T]his festering abscess needs to be liquidated.″[377][378] Additionally, theRussian Embassy in Washington, D.C. published ambassadorAnatoly Antonov's warning to the U.S. against ″yet another unprovoked and illegal aggression against Syria" on the pretext of a staged chemical attack.[379][380]
On 30 August, the Russian MoD said it would conduct large-scale drills in eastern Mediterranean that would involve 25 ships and 30 planes. The drills would take place from 1 September until 8 September and the area would be closed for other countries' vessels and aircraft.[381] The announcement was made amidst reports of the impending Syrian government's offensive in the Idlib province and anticipated military reaction on the part of the U.S.[382][383]
On 17 September 2018, duringmultiple missile strikes by Israeli F-16 jets at targets in western Syria, Russia'sIl-20ELINT reconnaissance plane returning toKhmeimim Air Base, with 15 Russian servicemen on board, was inadvertently downed by a SyrianS-200 surface-to-air missile. Russia's defence minister the following day blamed Israel's military for the accident[384][385] and re-affirmed its stance in a minute-by-minute report presented on 23 September.[386][387] Early on 20 September, Russia's government-run news agency reported Russia had announced multiple areas of eastern Mediterranean ″near Syria, Lebanon, and Cyprus" shut for air and sea traffic until 26 September, due to the Russian Navy's drills in the area.[388] Following the shoot down incident, Shoigu on 24 September said that within two weeks, the Syrian army would receiveS-300 air-defense missile systems to strengthen Syria's combat air defence capabilities; a series of other military measures were announced such as radio-electronic jamming of "satellite navigation, onboard radars and communications systems used by military aircraft attacking targets in Syrian territory", in the areas of the Mediterranean off the Syrian coast.[389][390][391]
On 8 November, according to theRussian MOD, Russian special forces stationed at theRussian Reconciliation Center either directly participated or guided the Syrian Arab Army in a successful special operation which rescued all the 19 remaining hostages alive, held by ISIL north-east ofPalmyra. Some reports stated the possibility of Russian special forces being covertly deployed in the province of al-Suwayda to support the Syrian Army advance on ISIS positions in the al-Safa area for theremainder of the offensive. [392][393][394][395][396][397]
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 68,000 Russian army servicemen had so far taken part in the Syrian intervention by 3 January 2019.[398]
On 8 January 2019, Russian military units began patrolling areas in and around the vicinity ofManbij, includingArima.[399]
On 13 March 2019, the Russian defence ministry said its jets had bombed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's targets in thecity of Idlib, the operation having been cleared with Turkey.[400] According to mass media reports, a displacement camp, as well as a prison were hit.[401][402]
Fighting intensified in Idlib and nearby areas at the end of April 2019, Syrian and Russian forces striking the rebel targets.[403]
On 13 June, the Russian military said fighting in the Idlib de-escalation zone had subsided as a result of a ceasefire agreement reached on Russia's initiative that came into force the day prior.[404]
By 10 July 2019, the government offensive in Idlib was judged to have reached a standstill, Russia's ties with Turkey cited as the main brake on any full-scale attempt to take the entire northwest.[405]
On 18 July, rebel commanders were cited byReuters as saying that Russia had sent special forces to fight alongside Syrian army troops in northwestern Syria; Russia's defense ministry said these were false allegations.[406]
On 29 August, the warplanes of Assad regime and Russia killed seven civilians in attacks in northwestern Syria. The region had been under cease-fire.[407]
Officially, the campaign ended the next day on 30 August after a ceasefire was agreed upon by both the Syrian Arab Army and the rebels that would take effect on 31 August. Some skirmishes have taken place since September as fighting is still reported. Overall, it was a major advance in theIdlib deescalation zone for the Syrian Army after the complete liberation of SouthernIdlib Governorate.
On 13 October 2019, Russian ground forces, along with the Syrian army entered and took theSDF-held areas on northeastern Syria following an agreement reached between the SDF and the Syrian government, shortly afterTurkey commenced itscross-border incursion into theKurdish-dominated region and theU.S. troops withdrew from the area.[408][409] Russia's military police units began patrolling the town ofManbij.[410]
President Bashar al-Assad meets with President Vladimir Putin and Defence MinisterSergey Shoygu in Damascus, 7 January 2020
On 2 November 2019, Russian aviation struck a concentration of militants in the area ofJisr al-Shughur in theIdlib province. The massive bombing came two days after Bashar al-Assad issued an ultimatum to the militants in the area demanding that they leave or surrender.[411]
On 24 November 2019, the Syrian Arab Army, supported by Russian airstrikes, launched "phase one" of the offensive against the rebels' stronghold in the Idlib province, which was officially announced on 19 December following the collapse of ceasefire agreements. The Russian-supported Syrian government offensive successfully continued into 2020, achieving, among other objectives, theestablishment of full government control of the area along the entireM5 highway for first time since 2012.[412] Meanwhile, relations between Russia and Turkey, which was sending heavy armour and thousands of its regular troops to fight on the side of the rebels in a bid to stem the government offensive, strained significantly and direct Russian strikes on regular Turkish forces were reported, Turkey's president Erdogan announcing an imminent Turkish intervention in the area.[413][414] On 20 February, Turkish defence ministerHulusi Akar told the news media there should be "no doubt" that Turkey would activate the S-400 missile systems it had bought from Russia in 2019.[415]
On 27 February 2020, according to reports from the scene, two RussianSu-34sconducted an airstrike on a Turkish military convoy killing at least 34 Turkish regular troops.[416][417][418] Turkey did not officially blame Russia for the airstrike while Russia denied responsibility saying that theSyrian Air Force was likely behind the strike.[419][420] According to Russia's defence ministry, Turkish service people "were in the battle formations of terrorist groups" when they came under the fire of Syrian troops.[420] Meanwhile, Russia ratcheted up efforts through both official statements and state-sponsored mass media aiming to drive home the message that Turkey itself was to blame for its fatalities as Turkish forces were not supposed to be in Syria in the first place.[421]
On 2 March, according toSaily Sabah andTASS, Russian military announced that Russia'sMilitary Police forces had been deployed toSaraqib following weeks of heavy fighting for control of this strategic town that saw it change hands several times; the declared objective was to secure safe passage of vehicles and civilians travelling along the M4 and M5 highways.[422][423]
On 15 March, Russian and Turkish forces started joint-patrols on the M4 highway as a part of a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey. According to Turkish Foreign MinisterMevlut Cavusoglu, Russian military forces will patrol the southern side while Turkey's military will patrol to the north of the highway.[424]
On 18 August, a Russian major general was killed and two servicemen were injured by a roadside bomb in Syria while en route to Hmeimim Air Base from Deir ez-Zor.[425]
In mid-September, Russian news media published officially unverified reports about "most powerful strikes" carried out on 15 September by Russian aviation as well asIskander missiles against "terrorists", includingTahrir al-Sham, near the town ofMaarrat Misrin.[426]
RussianSU-34 andSU-35 jets drop flares in the flight path of a U.S.MQ-9 Reaper over Syria, 6 July 2023
On 26 October 2020, theRussian airstrike on a training base run byFaylaq al-Sham, a major rebel group backed by Turkey, in the town ofKafr Takharim was reported to have killed at least 78 Turkish-backed militia fighters.[427][428]
On 19 April 2021, Russian warplanes executed airstrikes on militant facilities in central Syria, northeast the city ofPalmyra according to theRussian Reconciliation Center in Syria. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that some 200 militants along with 24 vehicles with weapons and 500 kilograms of ammunitions and explosives were destroyed in the operation without specifying the affiliation of the militants.[429] TheSOHR confirmed the airstrikes but stated that only 26 ISIS militants were killed in the region.[430]
In May 2021, Russia said that three Tu-22Ms became the first bombers deployed to the Khmeymim airbase in Syria with the aim of enhancing the stability in the region.[431]
On 17 May 2022, a Russian operatedS-300 missile system is said to have fired a missile at a F-16 operated by the IAF. If confirmed it would be the first time Russian forces have fired on Israeli jets. It is also possible Russian forces have handed the missile system over to Syrian forces.[432]
In late May 2022, amid growing concerns of a new Turkish military incursion into northern Syria, Russia sent military reinforcements toQamishli Airport.[433][434]
On 10 June 2022, Russia had conducted joint military exercises with the Syrian Army south of Idlib. Russia had also dispatched an additional eight military helicopters toAbu al-Duhur Military Airbase, south of Aleppo.[435]
During the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia was reported to be withdrawing (since May) its troops from Syria as reinforcements to its dwindling forces in Ukraine; according to Moscow Times (16 September 2022), the re-deployment of Russia's last reserves in Syria is under way.[436]
During the year of 2022, the SOHR reported that at least 3,935 airstrikes were conducted by Russian forces in 2022 and that 159 ISIS militants were killed and another 255 were injured by Russian airstrikes on Islamic State positions throughout the country.[437]
As of summer 2023, Russia had 20 military bases in Syria as well as 85 other military points, the majority in Hama, Al-Hasakah, Latakia and Aleppo provinces. In March 2023, President Assad told Russian media that "increasing the number of Russian military bases in Syrian territory might be necessary in the future because Russia's presence in Syria is linked to the global balance of power."[438]
As of 2024, the Russian operational group in Syria consisted of special forces units, base security units, and part of an Air Force unit, maintained on a rotational basis.[159]
On November 29 rebel forces hadentered Aleppo.[443] The day after several more settlements were seized, with the rebels enteringHama andHoms.[444][445][446] On 7 December 2024, the outskirts ofDamascus were reached by rebel forces.[447][448]
Following Damascus's seizure, Russia confirmed that Assad had left Syria and had stepped down.[449][450][451] This was followed by an announcement by the Syrian army command to officers that theAssad regime had ended.[452][453][454]
Following the rapid disintegration of Syrian republic forces and the swift advance by the Syrian opposition forces, Russian airstrikes increased, but they were unable to stop any of the offensives.[455]
On 30 November, theDeir ez-Zor offensive conducted by opposition forces managed to consolidate a hold in the industrial zones of the city ofDeir ez-Zor. Russian forces on the ground operating in the area were thus forced to coordinate a withdrawal of military equipment and personnel from multiple headquarters of the city, relocating these assets on the eastern bank of theEuphrates before pulling out all together the following day.[456]
Entrance to the Khmeimim Air Base with Russian presence after Assad's Fall. The Image ofBashar al-Assad torn down by Russian soldiers, 18 December 2024
Russian intervention ceased on 6 December after an airstrike failed to sever the key Homs-Hama 'Al-Rastan' bridge (merely damaging it) - opposition forces thuscaptured Homs with ease.[457][458][459] Following this, Russia was unable to help Assad's forces any further,[460] and their forces began evacuating its military fleet from bases in western Syria.[158] The Russian embassy at Damascus was also inlockdown following therebel capture of the city; Russia also ordered their citizens to flee the country.[461]
The two Russian bases in Syria had also been cut off creating a tense standoff - the airbase at Hmeimim airbase, and also the naval facility at Tartous. Russia vowed swift responses if these two were attacked, but Syrian opposition leaders have guaranteed the safety of the Russian bases as well as the diplomatic missions which have remained inside Syria.[462]
On 14 December 2024, Russian forces were withdrawing some of its forces from northern Syria and posts in the Alawite Mountains.[463] They left in a convoy, heading towards the naval base at Tartous.[464] In addition several large transport aircraft had arrived at Khmeimim air base, whilst helicopters and air defences were being disassembled.[465] According to Syrian officials, Russia was not however pulling out of the bases and currently had no intention of doing so.[466]
On January 24 Syria terminated the investment agreement that granted Russia the operation of Tartous for 49 years. This meant that Russia would have to withdraw from the naval port at some point.[467]
By late February 2016, the Russian Air Force conducted around 60 airstrikes daily, while the American-led coalition averaged seven.[468] Pro-government websiteAl-Masdar News said that these Russian airstrikes have proven particularly effective against theISIS oil trade and supply routes in theSyrian Desert.[469] An estimated 209 oil facilities were destroyed by the airstrikes, along with over 2,000 petroleum transports. By the time of the withdrawal of the "main part" of its forces in mid-March, Russia had conducted over 9,000 sorties over the course of five and a half months, while helping the Syrian Army capture 400 towns and regain 10,000 square kilometres of territory.[470] The Russian military followed the Chechnya Counter-Insurgency model, and "a revanchist Russia, even with a stagnated mono-industrial economy surprised the international community with the pace of attack and will to sustain the operation."[471]
In January 2016, a few months after the start of Russia's involvement in Syria, diplomatRanjit Gupta wrote inThe Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, that the Russian reinforcement was a "godsend for Assad, greatly boosting the regime's sagging morale and that of its armed forces."[472] Gupta continued:
With robust air cover provided by Russian airstrikes Assad's forces can start liberating and holding territory, particularly in the extremely strategically vital corridor connecting Damascus and Aleppo. Russian help provides Assad's military the distinct possibilities to regain the upper hand in the conflict, particularly in northwestern and western Syria at least.[472]
In February 2016, ProfessorFawaz A. Gerges of theLondon School of Economics opined the Russian military intervention had turned out to be a game-changer in the Syrian Civil War:[473] ″Mr Putin's decision to intervene in Syria and shore up Mr Assad with new fighter jets, military advisers and advanced weapons stopped the bleeding of the Syrian army and allowed it to shift from defence to offence.″[473]
Western media and analysts conclude that Russia's intervention in Syria kept Assad in power and even turned the tide of the war in his favour.[475][476][477]
In the week following the start of combat missions, the website RealClear Defense, part of theRealClearPolitics group, published an assessment of the effectiveness of theAdmiral Kuznetsov as a platform for airstrikes, noting the small size of its air group (estimated at a total of eightSu-33 and fourMiG-29K aircraft), the difficulties with the MiG-29K, which is seen as the more effective platform for strike missions, the smaller amounts ofsmart weapons for the Su-33 (which is primarily a fleet air defence aircraft),[478] and the lack ofaircraft catapults on the carrier, which limits the take-off weight of its aircraft.[479]
Five years into the intervention, Russian strategy had prevented the total collapse of Assad's Ba'athist government and rolled back the territorial advances made bySyrian rebels. As a result, Russia had become more active inWest Asia, prompting many analysts to discuss a "Russian resurgence" and even draw comparisons toCold War-era geo-political tensions.[163] Russian tactics and weapons used in the offensive have been compared to those used in theBattle of Grozny (1999–2000) againstChechen separatists.[298][301][300][299]
During the2024 Syrian opposition offensives in November, Russian intervention, using airstrikes, special forces and artillery was not sufficient to halt the Syrian Opposition forces.[480] The latter swiftly captured vast swathes of territory includingDamascus on 7 December which forced Bashar al-Assad to flee, ending his regime altogether and prompting a Russian withdrawal.[481]
Russian air group personnel in Syria fit aKAB-500KR guided bomb on an Su-34 jet based in HmeymimA RussianSu-34 dropping aKAB-500S-E guided bomb during a bombing mission above SyriaUnloading of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems ("Hmeymim" air base, Syrian Arab Republic)
Russian forces in Syria were reported to have used a mix ofprecision-guided munitions andunguided weapons.[482][483] The October 2015 airstrikes were Russia's first operational use of precision-guided munitions, whose development in Russia lagged behind other major powers. The majority of weapons employed, however, were unguided.[484] Most Russian jets employ theSVP-24 guidance system, which allows them to use unguided munitions with high precision, close to the precision of guided ones, with substantially smaller costs.[485]
Russian bombardment campaigns have caused enormous destruction of public infrastructure, religious buildings, heritage sites, industrial areas, residential places; in addition to massive amounts ofcivilian casualties; which has aggravated theSyrian refugee crisis. Between September 2015 and March 2019, Russianaerial campaigns alone resulted in an estimated 18,150 deaths; including 8000 civilians, consisting of thousands of women and children. Approximately 5,000 of the combatants killed in bombings were rebel fighters and another 5,000 were members of the Islamic State. Around 25,000 children were killed and an estimated 1,197 schools have been destroyed by the combined attacks of Ba'athist and Russian military forces, between March 2011 and November 2021.[492][493][494]
Scorched earth tactics have been a major component of Russian-backed military campaign against opposition militias.[495] Throughout the campaign,Russian airforce and allied ground troops implemented "starve-or-submit" strategy while besieging towns and cities held by rebel forces.[496][497] According toAmnesty International, in late February 2016, Russian warplanes deliberately targeted civilians and rescue workers during their bombing campaign.[498] The human rights group has documented attacks on schools, hospitals and civilian homes. Amnesty International also said that "Russia is guilty of some the most egregious war crimes" it had seen "in decades". The director of Amnesty's crisis response program, Tirana Hassan, said that after bombing civilian targets, the Russian warplanes "loop around" for a second attack to target the humanitarian workers and civilians who are trying to help those have been injured in the first sortie.[498]
In February 2016,Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported extensive use ofcluster munitions by Syria and Russia, in violation of United Nations resolution 2139 of 22 February 2014, which demanded that all parties end "indiscriminate employment of weapons in populated areas". HRW said that "Russian or Syrian forces were responsible for the attacks" and that the munitions were "manufactured in the former Soviet Union or Russia" and that some were of a type that had "not been documented as used in Syria" prior to Russia's involvement in the war, which they said, suggested that "either Russian aircraft dropped them or Russian authorities recently provided the Syrian government with more cluster munitions, or both".[149] HRW also said that while neither Russia nor Syria are parties to the Cluster Munitions Convention, the use of such munitions contradicts statements issued by the Syrian government that they would refrain from using them.[149]
In February 2016,Médecins Sans Frontières has said that either "Syrian regime" or Russian warplanes deliberately attacked a hospital inMa'arrat al-Nu'man.[499] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that it was Russian warplanes that destroyed the hospital.[500] In March 2016, Amnesty International reported that the Russian aerial bombing campaign in opposition-held territories involved the methodical targeting of hospitals and medical facilities, describing it as a calculated "military strategy" to forcibly displace civilian inhabitants.[501]
In 2016, opposition activists and local witnesses have reported that Russia has used white phosphorus against targets inRaqqa[502] andIdlib,[503] causing civilian casualties with the weapons.[504] U.S. officials repeatedly stated that hospitals in Syria were attacked by Russian forces.[505][506][507] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that by mid-February 2016, Russian air strikes had killed 1,000 civilians, including 200 children, since the initiation of the intervention in September 2015.[508] In March 2016,Amnesty International reported "compelling evidence" of at least six such attacks.[509] These reports, including the bombing of two hospitals by Russian Air Force planes, have been denied by Russian officials.[510][511] In May 2016 the Russian delegation to the UN Security Council vetoed a statement condemning the air strikes on a refugee camp in Idlib on 5 May.[512]
In June 2016,Russia Today, while reporting minister Shoigu's visit to Hmeymim air base, showed incendiary cluster bombs being loaded onto Russian airplanes, identified asRBK-500 ZAB-2.5SM due to clearly visible markings. After this information, inconsistent with official Russian statements, the video was removed but later reinstated and uploaded by RT. An editorial note below the video made no mention of the weapon, saying a frame in the video has caused "concern for personnel safety" because of a pilot's close-up. "Upon re-evaluation it was deemed that the frame did not pose any risks; it had since been restored and the video is up in its original cut," the RT statement said.[150][513]
By the end of 2018,Airwars, which monitors reports of casualties of all airstrikes, had documented 2,730–3,866 civilian deaths in Syria in some 39,000 Russian strikes, including 690–844 children and 2,017 named victims, although Russia officially confirmed none of these.[514] Russia stated it had flown 39,000sorties (not strikes) as of late 2018.[515] The annual total for 2018 according to Airwars was 730 strikes killing 2,169 civilians.[516]
In May 2019 United Nations officials said the Russian and Syrian governments intentionally bombed eight hospitals in Idlib whose GPS coordinates were passed to Russia as part of agreed "deconfliction mechanism" with hope to prevent "accidental bombing" which was previously used as an excuse by the governments.[517]
In August 2019, over 19 civilians were killed within two days after Russian forces carried out air-raids on a "displaced persons camp" near Hass village in southern Idlib.[518] Also in August, the UN has opened an investigation into the bombing of hospitals.[519]
In October 2019,The New York Times published further evidence of coordinated attacks of Russian aviation against hospitals on the "deconfliction list", consisting of airplane sightings, intercepted radio conversations of pilots and air control exchanging GPS coordinates of specific hospitals which were bombed soon after.[520]
The Airwars report for 2019 recorded 710 claimed Russian casualty events in Syria – a 3% fall on 2018 – killing between 1,099 and 1,745 civilians. 81% of the events were in Idlib, 13% in Hama, and 5% in Aleppo. The strikes mainly occurred during theIdlib offensive of May to September, with the single worst incident being theJuly 22nd strikes in Ma'arrat al-Numan which killed up to 42 civilians.[516] ANew York Times investigation confirmed Russia's culpability in the latter. The investigation also detailed Russian attacks on the Martyr Akram Ali Ibrahim Al-Ahmad School inQalaat al-Madiq on 28 April 2019.[521]
A 2020 report by UNHuman Rights Council for the first time directly laid responsibility onRussian Air Force of indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets "amounting to a war crime" referring specifically to extensive evidence on the bombing of a refugee shelter in Haas and a market place in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man in summer 2019.[522]
By August 2022, Airwars estimated 4,308-6,386 civilians killed from Russian airstrikes since 2015, including 1,151-1,403 children, 627-760 women, and 3,192 named victims. The Russian military has denied that any of its strikes have caused any civilian casualties in Syria. Russian bombing has also injured 6,508-10,169 people.[523]
The presence of theWagner Group private military contractors (PMCs) in Syria was first reported in late October 2015, almost a month after the start of the Russian military intervention in the country's civil war, when between three and nine PMCs were killed in a rebel mortar attack on their position inLatakia province.[524][525][526] It was reported that the Wagner Group was employed by theRussian Defense Ministry, even though private military companies are illegal in Russia.[527] The Russian Defense Ministry dismissed the early reports byThe Wall Street Journal about the Wagner Group's operations in Syria as an "information attack". However, sources within the RussianFSB and the Defense Ministry unofficially stated forRBTH that Wagner was supervised by the GRU.[528]
Besides fighting ISIL militants, according to RBK TV, the PMCs trained a Syrian Army unit called theISIS Hunters, which was also fully funded and trained by Russian special forces.[536]
In early February 2018, the PMCs took part in a battle at the town ofKhasham, in eastern Syria, which resulted in heavy casualties among Syrian government forces and the Wagner Group as they were engaged by United Statesair andartillery strikes, due to which the incident was billed by media as "the first deadly clash between citizens of Russia and the United States since theCold War".[537][538]
Subsequently, the Wagner Group took part[539] in the Syrian military'sRif Dimashq offensive against the rebel-heldEastern Ghouta, east of Damascus.[540][541] The whole Eastern Ghouta region was captured by government forces on 14 April 2018,[542][543] effectively ending the near 7-year rebellion near Damascus.[544]
Vladimir Putin meets Iranian PresidentHassan Rouhani in New York, 29 September 2015.
Iran continues to officially deny the presence of its combat troops in Syria, maintaining that it provides military advice to President Assad's forces in their fight against terrorist groups.[548] It is stated that the Syrian Arab Army receives substantial support from theQuds Force; in June 2015, some reports suggested that the Iranian military were effectively in charge of the Syrian government troops on the battlefield.[549]
After theloss ofIdlib province to arebel offensive in the first half of 2015, the situation was judged to have become critical for Assad's survival. High level talks were held between Moscow and Tehran in the first half of 2015 and a political agreement was achieved;[164] on 24 July, ten days after the signing of the nuclear agreement between Iran and theP5+1 countries, GeneralQasem Soleimani visited Moscow[550] to devise the details of the plan for coordinated military action in Syria.[164][551]
In mid-September 2015, the first reports of new detachments from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards arriving inTartus and Latakia in western Syria were made in pro-Assad media: with much of the Syrian Arab Army and National Defence Force units deployed to more volatile fronts,Russian Marines and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) relieved their positions by installing military checkpoints inside the cities of Slunfeh (east Latakia Governorate),Masyaf (East Tartus Governorate) andRas al-Bassit (Latakia coastal city).[552] There were further reports of new Iranian contingents being deployed to Syria in early October 2015.[553] After the start of the Russian operation, it was generally thought that Iran will be playing a leading role in the ground operations of Syria's army and allies, whilst Russia will be leading in the air in conjunction with the Syrian Arab Air Force, thereby establishing a complementary role.[554]
After the meeting between Vladimir Putin andAli Khamenei in Tehran on 23 November 2015, Iran was said to have made a decision to unify its stance vis-a-vis the Syrian leadership with Russia's.[555]
The use of Iran'sHamadan Airbase by Russian military aircraft that began in mid-August 2016 marked a new level of cooperation between the countries in their support for the Syrian government.[556][557]
The network of Iranian bases in Syria, some with many many underground tunnels were hurriedly abandoned during the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024, leaving behind weapons, sensitive documents and personal effects.[558]
Russian authorities have made efforts to avoid a repeat of the humiliating experience ofSoviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Casualty figures of Russian troops andPMCs have been either undercounted officially or undisclosed. Fearing the implications of a protracted war in Syria, Russian government had been keen to regularly issue declarations of victory, in order to provide the idea that the war was about to end. Despite continued stationing of Russian boots on the ground, Putin had twice declared "the withdrawal of Russian troops", in 2016 and 2017. With the military intervention being extended indefinitely as a protracted conflict,war weariness had been rising in the Russian society. A 2019 poll conducted byLevada Center revealed that at least 55% of Russian citizens demanded the end of all military operations in Syria; up from 49% in 2017.[163]
Russian troops prepare parachute platform P-7s with humanitarian aid for landing inDeir ez-Zor.
Syria:
On 1 October 2015, the Syrian Ambassador to Russia, Riyad Haddad, stated that the Russian air force is acting in full coordination with the Syrian army. He added that Syria's position is that the Russian intervention is the only legitimate intervention underinternational law and called for other countries to join the "non-criminal" Russian intervention in Syria.[165]
United Nations – On 31 October 2015,UN Secretary GeneralBan Ki-moon said in an interview with Spanish dailyEl Mundo "The future of Assad must be decided by the Syrian people," and "The Syrian government states that President Assad takes part (in anytransitional government) but others, especially Western countries, say there is no place for him, but because of that we have lost three years, there have been more than 250,000 dead, more than 13 million displaced within Syria... more than 50 percent of hospitals, schools and infrastructure have been destroyed. There's no time to lose."[559]
In 2016, retired war crimes prosecutorCarla Del Ponte, who was researching rights abuses in Syria as part of theIndependent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, told an interviewer "I think the Russian intervention is a good thing, because finally someone is attacking these terrorist groups", but added that Russia is not distinguishing enough between terrorist and other groups.[560] In 2017, she complained that Russia was using itsUN Security Council veto to prevent prosecution of war crimes in Syria, leading her to resign from her role in Syria.[561][562]
NATO – NATO condemned Russian air strikes[563] and urged Russia to stop supporting al-Assad. On 8 October 2015, it renewed assurances to defend the allies in view of the "escalation of Russian military activities."[564]
U.S.-led coalition – On 1 October 2015, participants in the United States-led anti-ISIL coalition called on Russia to curtail its air campaign in Syria, saying the airstrikes had hit Syrian opposition groups and civilians. Such strikes would "only fuel more extremism", the statement issued by the United States, UK, Turkey and other coalition members declared.[565] "We call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians and to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL."[566] United States President Barack Obama, at a news conference on 2 October, underscored the coalition statement by saying the Russian action was driving moderate opposition groups underground, and would result in "only strengthening" ISIL.[567]
Armenia provided support for the Russian operations in Syria by providing operational and logistical support.[569][570] As a member of theCSTO, Armenia supported the Russian military intervention.[571][better source needed]
Belarus, also a member of the CSTO, supported the Russian military intervention in Syria, said the country's acting foreign ministerVladimir Makei in October 2015.[citation needed]
China reacted positively to Russia's military intervention in Syria. The Chinese government perceives it as an element of the global fight against terrorism.[572] China's special envoy for the crisis in Syria praised Russia's military role in the war. In August 2016,Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, was in Damascus and said that "China and Syria's militaries have a traditionally friendly relationship, and China's military is willing to keep strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Syria's military".[573]
Egypt voiced support for the Russian air operation. On 3 October 2015, Foreign MinisterSameh Shoukry said the Russian entry into war in Syria was bound "to have an effect on limiting terrorism in Syria and eradicating it."[574]
Iraq supported the Russian intervention in Syria and has permitted Russia to fly over Iraq with its war planes.[575]
Israel – Shortly prior to the Russian intervention, theIsrael Defense Forces and Russian military had set up a joint working group to coordinate their Syria-related activities in the aerial, naval, and electromagnetic arenas.[576] The Israeli government was primarily concerned about ensuring that the potential alliance betweenHezbollah and Russia is not detrimental to its security.[577] According toZvi Magen, former ambassador to Moscow, "Israel made clear to him [Putin] that we have no real problem with Assad, just with Iran, Hezbollah and ISIS, and that message was understood."[578] An Israeli military official stated that Israel would not shoot down any Russian aircraft which accidentally overflew Israeli territory because "Russia is not an enemy".[579]
Jordan – On 23 October 2015, Jordan agreed to set up a "special working mechanism" inAmman to coordinate military actions with Russia in Syria. Russian foreign minister,Sergey Lavrov called for continued expansion of the alliance, saying "We think that other states that participate in the anti- terrorist fight can join this mechanism as well."[580]
Saudi Arabia – On 1 October 2015, Saudi Arabia's senior diplomat at the UN demanded that Russia cease its intervention, repeating statements made by Western diplomats that Russia was targeting the unnamed "moderate" anti-government opposition rather than ISIL.[584]
Erdoğan visited Moscow to discuss Syria and to attend the opening of the newly builtCathedral Mosque, 23 September 2015
Turkey – PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, after a series of reported violations of the country's airspace by Russian military aircraft in early October 2015, warned that Russia's military operation in Syria couldjeopardise the bilateral ties between the countries.[585] On 23 December, co-leader of Turkey's pro-KurdishPeoples' Democratic Party Selahattin Demirtaş criticized Ankara's stance regarding a Russian jet shot down by Turkey in November 2015.[586]
United Arab Emirates – Initially, the UAE did not comment on the Russian intervention.[587] Foreign MinisterAnwar Mohammed Qarqash later expressed support for the intervention, saying they were against a "common enemy".[588]
United Kingdom – Prime MinisterDavid Cameron said "It's absolutely clear that Russia is not discriminating between ISIL and the legitimate Syrian opposition groups and, as a result, they are actually backing the butcher Assad and helping him".[589] British troops will be sent to theBaltic states and Poland following Russia's intervention in Syria "to respond to any further provocation and aggression".[590]
Russian and American representatives meet to discuss the situation in Syria on 29 September 2015
United States – In early October 2015, PresidentBarack Obama was reported to have authorised the resupply—against ISIL—of 25,000 Syrian Kurds and 5,000 of the armed-Syrian opposition, emphasising that the United States would continue this support now that Russia had joined the conflict.[591][592]
The U.S. ruled out military cooperation with Russia in Syria.[593] Secretary of DefenseAshton Carter and other senior U.S. officials said Russia's campaign was primarily aimed at propping up Assad, whom Obama has repeatedly called upon to leave power.[594] On 8 October 2015, he said, at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, that Russia would soon start paying the price for its military intervention in Syria in the form of reprisal attacks and casualties.[595] He added that he expected "in the next few days the Russians will begin to lose in Syria."[593] He further said Russia's campaign was primarily aimed at propping up Assad.[594]
On 9 October, the Obama administration abandoned its efforts to build up a new rebel force inside Syria to combat the Islamic State, acknowledging the failure of its $500 million campaign to train thousands of fighters and announcing that it will instead use the money to provide ammunition and some weapons for groups already engaged in the battle.[596]
The body of the pilot of the Russian Su-24 that was shot down by Turkey atChkalovsky Airport in Russia, 30 November 2015
On 24 November, Obama said that Turkey "has a right to defend its territory and its airspace" after itshot down a Russian bomber for reportedly violating Turkish airspace for 17 seconds, near the Syrian border. Obama also said "[Russians] are going after moderate opposition that are supported by not only Turkey but a wide range of countries."[597] Syrian government forces supported by the Russian air force were fighting against an alliance that included the Turkish-backedSyrian Turkmen Brigades andal-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate theal-Nusra Front.[598]
Representatives of theKurdishYPG andPYD expressed their support for Russian air strikes against Islamic State, al-Nusra Front andAhrar al-Sham. Russia'sSputnik News cited YPG commanderSipan Hemo urging for Russian help in weaponry and for the cooperation with Russia in theWar against Islamic State.[599][600] Shortly after the Russian air strikes started,Salih Muslim, co-chair of the PYD, has said in an interview that "America will object because [Jabhat] al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham are no different than Daesh. They are all terrorist organizations and share the same radical mentality."[599] At the same time Salih Muslim opposed Russian support to theBa'athist regime, stating:
"as far asAssad remaining in power, we think differently. Assad cannot remain in power as before. He may stay on during a transition period, during a period of dialogue between the conflicting parties, but in the long term it seems inconceivable that the majority of theSyrian people would accept his leadership anymore."[599]
On 30 September,Russian Orthodox Church spokesmanVsevolod Chaplin, said the fight against terrorism was a "moral fight, a holy fight if you will".[601][602][603] According toThe Washington Post, "Russian Muslims are split regarding the intervention in Syria, but more are pro- than anti-war."[604] Numerous politicians, journalists, religious leaders, intellectuals andhuman rights activists across theArab World have condemned Russian Orthodox Church's framing of Putin's military intervention as a "holy war", drawing parallels with medievalCrusades. Attacking the ROC leadership, writer Saad al-Din stated: "The Orthodox Church supports Putin's crimes and massacres in Syria and considers it a holy war... it is not a church that considers fighting the children of Syria aholy war, but rather a moral and political brothel."[605]
Influential scholarYusuf al-Qaradawi (centre) became a fervent opponent of Russia after itssupport of the Assad regime. As early as 2012, Qaradawi condemned Russian government as the "first enemy of Islam" and campaigned for an international boycott of the country.[606]
"If we defend our homelands and our homes in the name ofIslam, which we believe in, we are accused of terrorism, yet Russia is bombing Syria and theopposition under the auspices of holy war. Who blessed Russia for the bombing of Syria? Was it blessed by God, Christ, or the texts of the Bible? This is a cursed and reprehensible war in the name of religions, laws, morals, and covenants."[614][605]
A few days ago, theRussian Duma declared that Russia would remain permanently in Syria, and that the Russian bases in Syria are there to stay. The Russians will not return to their country. I'd like to remind you that when the Russians first entered Syria, I called it aninvasion. This is aCrusader invasion of our countries. All theMuslims must confront this invasion, and drive the invaders - Russians or others - out of their countries. Some people say: "The Russians are here to help us." Oh, no. They are not here to serve you. You are the servant, not they. I repeat: The Muslims must drive out the invaders, and especially theRussian invaders. Let no one deceive you. This is not a Sunni-Shiite war. It is not a war between Muslims. This is awar against Muslims - Sunnis and Shiites alike... This is not a sectarian war. It is a Western war.
Fifty-five Saudi religious scholars signed a statement against the Russian intervention, first addressing the Russians as "Oh Russians, oh extremist people of the Cross", reminding them of theSoviet invasion of Afghanistan and addressing Orthodox Russia as the heir of the Soviet Communists, stating they were "supporting theNusayri regime" and invading "Muslim Syria", stating the leaders of theRussian Orthodox Church were waging ananti-Muslim "Crusade" and telling them they will meet thefate of the Soviet Union and suffer "a shameful defeat in theLevant". The statement also addressed "Our people in the Levant", telling the able-bodied and those who are able to contribute to join the "Jihad" instead of emigrating. The statement also called for all factions against the government in Syria to unite. Further, addressing "Arab and Muslim countries", telling them that there is a "real war against Sunnis and their countries and identity" at the hands of the "Western-Russian andSafavid and Nusayri alliance", calling for the termination of all relations with Iran and Russia with Muslim countries and to "protect the land and people of the Levant from the influence of the Persians and Russians", especially calling upon Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to support the Levant.[617]
In addition to Sunni scholars, major Shi'i clerics have also sharply denounced the Russian intervention in Syria; labelling it as a Crusader invasion. Influential Lebanese Shi'ite clericSubhi al-Tufayli, estranged founder and firstSecretary-General of Hezbollah during 1980s, urged Muslims to resist Russian invaders the same way the Palestinians defend themselves fromZionist occupation. He also vehemently denounced Hezbollah for aiding the Russian expansionist agenda, which also threatenedLebanon.[618]
TheMuslim Brotherhood of Syria issued a statement declaringJihad against Russia obligatory (Fard 'ayn) upon all who are able to carry weapons.[58][619][620][621] They cited the Russian Orthodox Church's call of the operation as a Holy War.[622][623][624][625][626][627][628] Photos ofUyghur fighters of theTurkistan Islamic Party were released with captions in Arabic that said "standing up strongly to the Nusayri army and the Russians." (المجاهدين التركستانيين يتصدى بقوة للجيش النصيري ومن قبل الروس).[629]
Al-Qaeda's now-defunct Syrian affiliateal-Nusra Front[630] once declared a reward for the seizure of Russian soldiers ofLS 2,500,000 (approximately US$13,000) in 2015.[631] Abu Ubaid Al-Madani, who speaks Russian, released a video addressed to the Russians warning that they would massacre Russian soldiers.[632] Ahmed al-Sharaa described the Russian intervention as an imperialistCrusade and incited retaliatory attacks against Russian civilians by Muslims inpost-Soviet states in response to Russian bombing of Syrian civilians. He also called for bringing the battle toAlawite villages in coastal Syria in response to the extensive targeting ofSunni Muslims by the Alawite-dominatedBa'athist regime with Russian support.[633][634][635] The Syria-based, AQ-linked Saudi clericAbdallah Muhammad Al-Muhaysini threatened that Syria would be a "tomb for its invaders" or "graveyard for invaders" in response to the Russian intervention and brought up theSoviet–Afghan War.[636][637] Muhaysini had foreign fighters of multiple backgrounds repeated the phrase "The Levant is the graveyard of the Russians", in a video message.[638]
TheIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant declared Jihad upon the Russians in a recorded vocal communiqué by Abu Mohammed al-Adnani.[639] On 12 November, ISIL published via its media branch, al-Hayat Media Center a music video in which they threatened that they would attack Russia very soon and "blood would spill like an ocean".
Shield, Ralph (2022). "Chapter 10". In Jackson, Colin; Haun, Phil; Schultz, Tim (eds.).Air Power in the Age of Primacy: Air Warfare Since the Cold War. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 249–253.ISBN978-1-108-83922-8.
^ab"Wagner groups in Syria since its formation until the expulsion from al-Rahma". SOHR. 29 June 2023.Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved29 June 2023.It is noteworthy that the Russian Ministry of Defense stated in 2017 that there are about 6,000 military personnel, noting that this number does not include the Russian police forces that were established by decree of President Vladimir Putin in 2015, while the real number of Russian military personnel in Syria exceeded 20,000 fighters and military advisers affiliated with of land, air and sea forces.
^Tsvetkova, Maria (8 November 2015)."Russian soldiers geolocated by photos in multiple Syria locations, bloggers say".Reuters.Archived from the original on 8 November 2015.U.S. security officials and independent experts told Reuters last week that Moscow had increased its forces in Syria to 4,000 personnel from an estimated 2,000. A U.S. defense official said multiple rocket-launcher crews and long-range artillery batteries were deployed outside four bases the Russians were using.
^Isachenkov, Vladimir (16 June 2017)."Key moments in Russia's campaign, involvement in Syrian war". Archived fromthe original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved17 June 2017.Russia's Defense Ministry never said how many troops it has in Syria, but turnout figures in voting from abroad in the September 2016 parliamentary elections indicated that Russian military personnel in the Arab nation at the time likely exceeded 4,300.
^Ripley, Tim (13 January 2016). "Russia operates 'Mainstay' AEW&Cs over Syria".Jane's Defence Weekly.53 (10). Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group.ISSN0265-3818.
^"Is Syria's Idlib being groomed as Islamist killing ground?".Asia Times. 29 January 2017.Last January, Idlib sank into a "rebel civil war" as fighting broke out between Jabhat al-Nusra and the Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sham, a militia in the Syrian north that boasts of a powerbase of at least 20,000 fighters.
^Charles Lister (15 March 2017)."Al Qaeda Is Starting to Swallow the Syrian Opposition".Foreign Policy.Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved5 January 2018.HTS and Ahrar al-Sham are the most militarily powerful, with the former likely commanding 12,000 to 14,000 fighters and the latter closer to 18,000 to 20,000.
^Aaron Y Zelin (June 2017)."How Al Qaeda survived drones, uprisings and the Islamic State"(PDF). Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 7 October 2020. Retrieved5 January 2018.Overnight [after its January 2017 expansion], Ahrar al-Sham had gained approximately 8,000 additional fighters to supplement its already large membership of 12,000.
^Brands, Hal; G. Jones, Seth (2023). "40: Soleimani, Gerasimov, and Strategies of Irregular Warfare".The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp. 1014, 1015.ISBN9780691204383.
^"Вечер с Владимиром Соловьевым. Эфир от 04.10.2016".russia.tv (in Russian). 4 October 2016.Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved25 May 2020.L. Ivashov: – If Russia did not engage in Syria and support the Assad regime, our budget would face the most severe difficulties by now. Three pipelines are competing there. Qatar has just discovered one of the largest gas resources: 51 trillions 50 billions of condensate. The first pipeline they attempted to lay was to Europe, through Syria and Turkey, where Turkey would become the operator. B. Nadezhdin: – So we entered the Syrian conflict to ensure demand for Gazprom? L. Ivashov: – Yes, for our survival.
^McDermott, Roger (15 March 2016)."Putin the 'Peacemaker' Ends Operations in Syria".Eurasia Daily Monitor.13 (51). Jamestown Foundation.The VKS flew more than 9,000 sorties using precision weapons, with targets including energy infrastructure, weapons and supply routes. Russian bombers assisted in reclaiming 400 settlements and 10,000 square kilometers of Syrian territory. Furthermore, Russian aircraft destroyed 209 Syrian oil facilities and over 2,000 means of delivery of petroleum products.
^Maitra, S (23 January 2017). "Assessment: Russian Military Strategy, Operational Tactics and Objective in Syria".Centre for Land Warfare Studies Journal.SSRN2903962.
^abGupta, Ranjit (January 2016). "Understanding the War in Syria and the Roles of External Players: Way Out of the Quagmire?".The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.105 (1): 6.doi:10.1080/00358533.2016.1128630.S2CID155974687.
^Williams, Mel, ed. (2002). "Sukhoi 'Super Flankers'".Superfighters: The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft. Norwalk, Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing. p. 128.ISBN1-880588-53-6.OCLC51213421.
Neack, Laura (2023). "8:Human Security".National, International, and Human Security: Protection Against Violence (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 172.ISBN9781538168028.
Vignal, Leïla (2021).War-Torn. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 89–103,120–125.ISBN9780197619988.
Nahlawi, Yasmine (2020). "8: Conclusion".The Responsibility to Protect in Libya and Syria. Routledge. p. 178.ISBN978-1-138-61865-7.
Borshchevskaya, Anna (2022). "6: The Military Campaign".Putin's War in Syria. London, UK: I. B. Tauris. pp. 76, 77.ISBN978-0-7556-3463-7.
^Neack, Laura (2023). "8:Human Security".National, International, and Human Security: Protection Against Violence (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 172.ISBN9781538168028.
^Vignal, Leïla (2021). "5: Mass Displacement: A Weapon of War".War-Torn. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 139–143.ISBN9780197619988.
^Lukmanov, A. (August 2013)."Russian Muslims and the "Arab Spring""(PDF).International Affairs: A Russian Journal of World Politics, Diplomacy and International Relations.59 (2). East View: 102. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 7 July 2023 – via Columbia University.edu.
Russia
Iran
Syrian Arab Republic
Armenia[1][2]
Syrian Democratic Forces (2016[3][4][5]–2017[6][7])
Islamic State
Ahmed al-Sharaa
Abdurrahman Mustafa
Abu Hajer al-Homsi †[37]
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NATO – NATO condemned Russian air strikes[563] and urged Russia to stop supporting al-Assad. On 8 October 2015, it renewed assurances to defend the allies in view of the "escalation of Russian military activities."[564]
Belarus, also a member of the CSTO, supported the Russian military intervention in Syria, said the country's acting foreign ministerVladimir Makei in October 2015.[citation needed]
China reacted positively to Russia's military intervention in Syria. The Chinese government perceives it as an element of the global fight against terrorism.[572] China's special envoy for the crisis in Syria praised Russia's military role in the war. In August 2016,Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, was in Damascus and said that "China and Syria's militaries have a traditionally friendly relationship, and China's military is willing to keep strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Syria's military".[573]
Egypt voiced support for the Russian air operation. On 3 October 2015, Foreign MinisterSameh Shoukry said the Russian entry into war in Syria was bound "to have an effect on limiting terrorism in Syria and eradicating it."[574]
Iraq supported the Russian intervention in Syria and has permitted Russia to fly over Iraq with its war planes.[575]_02.jpg)
Israel – Shortly prior to the Russian intervention, theIsrael Defense Forces and Russian military had set up a joint working group to coordinate their Syria-related activities in the aerial, naval, and electromagnetic arenas.[576] The Israeli government was primarily concerned about ensuring that the potential alliance betweenHezbollah and Russia is not detrimental to its security.[577] According toZvi Magen, former ambassador to Moscow, "Israel made clear to him [Putin] that we have no real problem with Assad, just with Iran, Hezbollah and ISIS, and that message was understood."[578] An Israeli military official stated that Israel would not shoot down any Russian aircraft which accidentally overflew Israeli territory because "Russia is not an enemy".[579]
Jordan – On 23 October 2015, Jordan agreed to set up a "special working mechanism" inAmman to coordinate military actions with Russia in Syria. Russian foreign minister,Sergey Lavrov called for continued expansion of the alliance, saying "We think that other states that participate in the anti- terrorist fight can join this mechanism as well."[580]
Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz PresidentAlmazbek Atambayev said that his country (also a member of the CSTO) supports the intervention.[581]
Saudi Arabia – On 1 October 2015, Saudi Arabia's senior diplomat at the UN demanded that Russia cease its intervention, repeating statements made by Western diplomats that Russia was targeting the unnamed "moderate" anti-government opposition rather than ISIL.[584]
Turkey – PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, after a series of reported violations of the country's airspace by Russian military aircraft in early October 2015, warned that Russia's military operation in Syria couldjeopardise the bilateral ties between the countries.[585] On 23 December, co-leader of Turkey's pro-KurdishPeoples' Democratic Party Selahattin Demirtaş criticized Ankara's stance regarding a Russian jet shot down by Turkey in November 2015.[586]
United Arab Emirates – Initially, the UAE did not comment on the Russian intervention.[587] Foreign MinisterAnwar Mohammed Qarqash later expressed support for the intervention, saying they were against a "common enemy".[588]
United Kingdom – Prime MinisterDavid Cameron said "It's absolutely clear that Russia is not discriminating between ISIL and the legitimate Syrian opposition groups and, as a result, they are actually backing the butcher Assad and helping him".[589] British troops will be sent to theBaltic states and Poland following Russia's intervention in Syria "to respond to any further provocation and aggression".[590]
United States – In early October 2015, PresidentBarack Obama was reported to have authorised the resupply—against ISIL—of 25,000 Syrian Kurds and 5,000 of the armed-Syrian opposition, emphasising that the United States would continue this support now that Russia had joined the conflict.[591][592].jpg)
Media related toRussian intervention in the Syrian civil war at Wikimedia Commons