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Russian intervention in Syria
Part of the military intervention against ISIL and the Syrian Civil War
Sukhoi Su-24 fighter bomber involved in the intervention
Date September 30, 2015 – present (9 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) Location Syria Latakia Governorate Homs Governorate Hama Governorate Idlib Governorate Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Coalition of foreign countries in air war  Russia  Syria  Iran	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Army of Conquest: al-Nusra Front Ahrar ash-Sham Free Syrian Army
Commanders and leaders
Vladimir Putin Sergey Shoygu Valery Gerasimov Bashar al-Assad Ali Khamenei Qasem Soleimani	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Abu Mohammad al-Adnani (Spokesperson) Abu Suleiman al-Naser (Replacement Military Chief) Abu Ali al-Anbari (Deputy, Syria) Abu Omar al-Shishani (Field commander in Syria) Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Leader of the al-Nusra Front) Abdul-Ilah al-Bashir
Units involved
Russian Armed Forces: Russian Air Force Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Air Force Syrian Army Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution: Quds Force Basij	Military of ISIL al-Nusra Front Ahrar ash-Sham Falcons of Mount Zawiya Brigade
Strength
Coalition forces: Russia: 12 Sukhoi Su-24s 12 Sukhoi Su-25s 6 Sukhoi Su-34s 4 Sukhoi Su-30s 200-800 Marine advisors Syria: 150,000 Personnel Iran: 15,000	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: Around 100,000 fighters (according to Iraqi Kurdistan Chief of Staff) 3 MiG-21 or MiG-23 aircraft At least a few hundred tanks 3 drones al-Qaeda: al-Nusra Front: 10,000
Casualties and losses
Russia: No casualties	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: No casualties al-Qaeda: 36+ Free Syrian Army 8 wounded (acc. opposition)

The Russian military intervention in Syria, in the context of the Syrian Civil War, started on 30 September 2015. It consisted of air strikes by Russia against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and other enemies of the Syrian government. Prior to the intervention, Russia's involvement in the Syrian Civil War had mainly consisted of arming the Syrian Army. Russia intervened after a formal request from the Syrian government for military help against terrorists in Syria. The United States continues to insist that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down and pledged continued support to the Free Syrian Army.

Background

After almost a year of air strikes conducted by the US-led intervention proved to be unsuccessful against ISIS, Russia, an ally of Syria, started sending its own warplanes and equipment to an airbase near the port city of Latakia in Syria. Russia announced its own coalition against ISIS together with Iran, Iraq and Syria.

On 30 September 2015, the upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council approved the request of President Vladimir Putin to deploy the Russian Air Force in Syria. The Syrian government sent a formal request to Russia for military help, after which Russia answered with its first series of air strikes against terrorists.

Operations

The first series of air strikes took place on 30 September 2015 in areas around the cities of Homs and Hama, targeting 8 ISIS targets containing arms and fuel depots and military equipment. Russian warplanes attacked "ISIS" "dens" in al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Zafaraniya in Homs province; Al-Tilol al-Hmer in Quneitra province; Aydoun, a village on the outskirts of the town of Salamiya; Deer Foul, between Hama and Homs; and the outskirts of Salamiya". In total, 20 flights were made.

According to Hezbollah media Mayadeen, the Army of Conquest around Jisr ash-Shugour has been bombed by Russian planes. At least 30 air strikes were carried out.

Reactions

Russia

On 30 September 2015, the Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin, talking about the support of the government's action on the part of all the religious groups in Russia, said the fight against terrorism was a "moral fight, a holy fight if you will". Leader of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, Chief Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin stated: "We fully back the use of a contingent of Russian armed forces in the battle against international terrorism."

On 1 October 2015, Putin dismissed the reports of alleged casualties among civilians caused by Russian airstrikes in Syria, saying those were part of information warfare against Russia.

Russian air strikes were not inflicted upon the opposition forces supported by the United States. This was stated by the intelligence staff of the U.S. air force. Air strikes hit ISIS positions as confirmed by satellite images and data of objective control, announced Russian defense Ministry.

Syria

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2015)

Other states

On 1 October 2015, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had demanded that Russia cease its intervention, repeating claims made by Western diplomats that Russia was targeting the moderate anti-government opposition rather than "ISIS".

Non-state actors

In response to reports of Russian intervention, the Army of Conquest's Liwa al-Haqq commander Abu Abdullah Taftanaz posted a tweet addressing the "infidel Russians", inviting them to send troops to Syria and saying that "we have thousands like Khattab" who would "slaughter your pigs". Abu Abdullah Taftanaz also tweeted Russian military terms for Syrian rebels to familiarize themselves with if they intercepted Russian radio chatter. Reportedly Chechen and Caucasian foreign fighters have begun flocking to the coastal regions of Syria where the Russians are based in order to seek them out.

Ahmad Eissa al-Sheikh, a commander in Ahrar ash-Sham, threatened to bring upon "Russian hell in a Levantine flavor" if they encountered the Russians. Harakat Fajr ash-Sham al-Islamiya leader Abu Abdullah ash-Shami tweeted about the "globalization" of the "Levantine Jihad". He also tweeted that on the Russians and said that "The Levant will become their graveyard, with the permission of Allah". Jabhat al-Nusra has set a reward for the seizure of Russian soldiers of 2,500,000 Syrian pounds (approximately US$13,000).

Media

The New York Times wrote that Putin is effectively putting a target on himself in the eyes of all Sunni Muslims. Voice of America predicted a major backlash against the Russians at the hands of jihadists.

See also

• Military intervention against ISIL
• Military activity of ISIL
• Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War
• List of wars and battles involving ISIL
• Russia–Syria relations
• Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (August–December 2015)

References

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2. ^ Leith Fadel (30 September 2015). "Russian Air Force Pounds Al-Qaeda in Latakia and Hama". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
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