Background and preparation phase
{{See also, Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war, Russian involvement in the Syrian civil war, Vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions on Syria The Syrian civil war has been waged since 2011 between multiple opposition (anti-government) groupings and the government as well, as their local and foreign support bases. Since 2014, a significant part of Syria′s territory had been ISIL territorial claims, claimed by thePrevention of Qatar-Turkey pipeline
{{Main, Qatar–Turkey pipeline In an October 2016 TV interview, General Leonid 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 of Gazprom. Involvement of Qatar and Turkey in the opposition to Assad was also interpreted as driven the plans to construct a pipeline through Syria in 2012 while Syrian government explicitly rejected it "to protect the interests of [its] Russian ally, which is Europe's top supplier of natural gas."Operations by Russian military forces
September–October 2015
{{see also, Northwestern Syria offensive (October 2015) The first series of Airstrike, air strikes took place on 30 September 2015 in areas around the cities of Homs and Hama, targeting the Syrian opposition, mainstream opposition. Russian warplanes attacked rebel positions "in al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Zafaraniyeh, Zafaraniya in Homs Governorate, Homs province; Al-Tilol al-Hmer in Quneitra Governorate, Quneitra province; Aydoun, a village on the outskirts of the town of Salamiyah; Deir Ful, Deer Foul, between Hama and Homs; and the outskirts of Salamiyah". In total, 20 flights were made.{{citation needed, date=February 2020 Most of the initial airstrikes targeted positions of the Foreign rebel fighters in the Syrian Civil War#Russia, Chechen fighters, Islamic Front (Syria), Islamic Front's Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam), and Free Syrian Army. According to Hezbollah media outlet Al Mayadeen, the Saudi/Turkish-backed Army of Conquest around Jisr ash-Shugour was bombed on 1 October by Russian planes; at least 30 air strikes were carried out. Another series of Russian airstrikes carried out that same day hitNovember 2015
{{main, Homs offensive (November–December 2015) On 17 November 2015, in the wake of the Metrojet Flight 9268, Russian jet crash over Sinai{{cite news , last1=Oliphant , first1=Roland , last2=Akkoc , first2=Raziye , last3=Steafel , first3=Eleanor , date=17 November 2015 , title=Paris attacks: Cameron to make case for Syria military action as EU troops could be sent to France , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11999927/Paris-France-terror-attacks-isil-Belgium-Molenbeek-suspects-Syria-Raqqa-bombing-live.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117090022/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11999927/Paris-France-terror-attacks-isil-Belgium-Molenbeek-suspects-Syria-Raqqa-bombing-live.html , url-status=dead , archive-date=17 November 2015 , newspaper=The Daily Telegraph , location=Online , access-date=17 November 2015 and the November 2015 Paris attacks, Paris attacks, according to the Russian defence minister′s public report to the president of Russia Vladimir Putin, Russia employed the Russia-based Tu-160, Tu-95MSM, and Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers firing air-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. 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. In addition, Putin said he had issued orders for the Russian cruiser Moskva, cruiser ''Moskva'' that had been in eastern Mediterranean since the start of the Russian operations to "work as with an ally",{{cite web, url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34849063 , title=Russia steps up attacks against IS with missile bombardment, publisher=BBC, date=18 November 2015, access-date=19 November 2015 with the French naval group led by flagship {{ship, French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, , 2 that had been on its way to the eastern Mediterranean since early November. The following day, according to the Russian Defence ministry, strikes by long-range bombers firing cruise missiles in the same areas in Syria continued.{{cite web, url=http://ria.ru/syria_mission/20151118/1323723657.html, title=Авиация РФ нанесла второй массированный удар по объектам ИГ в Сирии, agency=RIA Novosti, date=18 November 2015, access-date=19 November 2015 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. A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 strike aircraft was 2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown, shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 on 24 November 2015.{{cite news, title = Warplane crashes near Syria-Turkey border - CNN, url = http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/24/middleeast/warplane-crashes-near-syria-turkey-border/index.html, publisher = CNN, access-date = 24 November 2015 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. In the video the rebels shout "''Allah Akbar''" over the dead body of a Russian pilot. 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 the Yayladağı province up to {{convert, 1.36, mi, km, order=flip, abbr=on for 17 seconds.{{cite web, title = Turkey's statement to the United Nations Security Council, url = http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Turkey_downs_Russian_jet/207503335, publisher = Al Jazeera, access-date = 24 November 2015 According to Turkey, the planes disregarded the multiple warnings and were subsequently fired upon by Turkish F-16s patrolling the area. After the Turkish fire, one of the planes left Turkish airspace and the other crashed into Syrian territory. The Russian Ministry of Defense denied that any of their planes had violated Turkey's airspace, stating they had been flying south of the Yayladağı province and provided two maps showing two different stated routes of the airplane (one of them with "impossible" turns and maneuvers). The incident followed incremental tensions between Russia and Turkey over reported repeated violations of Turkish airspace by Russian military jets (one of which Russia admitted{{citation needed, date=February 2020) and the Turkish prime minister′s statement of 17 October that Turkey would not hesitate to shoot down airplanes violating its airspace. Russia in response announced it would deploy additional air defense weapons in the area and accompany its bombers with fighter jets. On 26 November 2015, deployment of S-300 (missile), S-300 andDecember 2015 – February 2016
{{main, 2015–16 Latakia offensive, Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015), Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin (2015–16), Northern Aleppo offensive (February 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 the Shayrat Airbase, al-Shayrat airbase near the city of Homs, already home to Russian attack helicopters and a team that had arrived about a month prior.{{cite news , url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article4628231.ece , title=Russia builds new base for more jets in Syria , work=The Times, date=1 December 2015 , access-date=1 December 2015, last1=Trew , first1=Tom Parfitt {{cite web , url=http://newsru.com/world/01dec2015/base.html, title=The Times: Россия готовится развернуть в Сирии вторую авиабазу, увеличив число самолетов и военных, publisher=NEWSru, date=1 December 2015 , access-date=1 December 2015 On 8 December, the Russian defence minister announced that a Kilo-class submarine, ''Rostov-on-Don'', had launched 3M-54 Klub, 3M14K cruise missiles while submerged, against ISIL targets in Raqqa Governorate, the first such strike from the Mediterranean Sea.{{cite web , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35041656 , title= Russia hits targets in Syria from Mediterranean submarine , publisher=BBC, date=8 December 2015 , access-date=9 December 2015 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 3 days, Russian aircraft, including Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, had performed over 300 sorties engaging over 600 targets of different type. On 11 December, in a televised meeting at the Defence ministry Vladimir Putin ordered the military in Syria to destroy any threatening targets: "I order you to act as tough as possible. Any target that poses a threat to Russian military grouping or ground infrastructure has to be destroyed immediately."{{cite web , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35070354 , title= Putin vows 'extremely tough' action on Syria threats, publisher=BBC, date=11 December 2015 , access-date=12 December 2015 He also appeared to suggest that the Russian military was now supporting the anti-government Free Syrian Army forces; however, the Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman later said that Russia was only supplying weapons to "the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic". On 16 December, Russia′s Defence minister Sergey Shoigu speaking to the members of the State Duma behind closed doors, mentioned a possible option of the Russian forces "reaching the Euphrates" in Syria.{{cite web , url= http://www.rbc.ru/politics/16/12/2015/56714d8b9a79475891a6cd5a, title=Шойгу рассказал депутатам о плане "дойти до Евфрата" в Сирии , publisher=RBC Information Systems, RBC, date=16 December 2015 , access-date=16 December 2015 On 19 December, Russian president 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". On 21 December, the longest Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015), offensive of the year since Russian forces got involved back in September yielded important gains. According to pro-government sources and social media accounts, these included the recapture of the strategic Khanasser–Ithriya Highway from ISIL and capturing of the main rebel strongholds of Al-Hader and Khan Tuman, cutting the Aleppo–Damascus highway and leaving them in control of three-quarters of the southern Aleppo countryside.{{cite web, url=http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-army-high-alert-hezbollah-promises-retaliate/, title=Hezbollah, Syrian Army control 3/4 of southern Aleppo after completing phase 2 of the offensive, author=Leith Fadel, work=Al-Masdar News, date=22 December 2015, access-date=23 December 2015, archive-date=13 August 2018, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813115013/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-army-high-alert-hezbollah-promises-retaliate/, url-status=dead Heavy Russian airstrikes facilitated the pace of the Syrian Army which also saw the deployment of Russian Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, special forces of the GRU for the first time in the war as military advisors, proving to be instrumental and effective against both ISIL and the rebels and their respective allies.{{citation needed, date=November 2020 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. On 27 December 2015, Chief Commander of the Russian Aerospace Force Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev stated that Russian pilots had never once attacked civilian targets in Syria. On 30 December 2015, heavy fighting was reported as the Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes advanced into the southern city of Al-Shaykh Maskin, which had been held by the rebel Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army, Southern Front since the First Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin in December 2014. The Syrian government′s Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin, offensive operation that had started on 28 December 2015 and completed by the end of January 2016 was said to be the government's first major assault in southern Syria since Russia joined the fight.{{cite web, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-idUSL8N14J17C20151230 , title=Syrian army backed by jets clashes with rebels holding southern town, date=30 December 2015, work=Reuters, access-date=31 December 2015 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.{{cite web , url= http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/69cb93de-b552-11e5-8358-9a82b43f6b2f.html, title=Russia helps shift balance against rebels in southern Syria , work=Financial Times, date=7 January 2016 , access-date=8 January 2016 On 9 January 2016, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian air strikes in the northwestern town of Maarrat al-Nu'man had killed about 60 persons, including 23 members of the Al-Nusra Front, Nusra Front. In January 2016, the cruiser Russian cruiser Varyag (1983), ''Varyag'' was deployed off Syria′s shore replacing sister ship {{ship, Russian cruiser, Moskva, , 2 and was named flagship of the 5th Operational Squadron, Russian naval task force positioned in the eastern Mediterranean. 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 force Mikoyan MiG-29, MiG-29 aircraft. Russia′s role was said to be essential in the government′s capture, on 24 January 2016, of the town of Rabia, Syria, Rabia, the last major town held by rebels in western Latakia province.{{cite news, url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35395328 , title= Syria conflict: Major rebel town 'seized' in boost for Assad, publisher= BBC, access-date=24 January 2016, date=24 January 2016 The capture of Rabia, part of the government′s 2015–16 Latakia offensive, Latakia offensive, was said to threaten rebel supply lines from Turkey. At the end of January 2016, Russia, for the first time, deployed four Sukhoi Su-35, Su-35S fighter jets, presumably equipped with the Khibiny (electronic countermeasures system), ''Khibiny'' electronic countermeasures, electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems, to the Khmeimim base; on 1 February the Russian defence ministry said the aircraft had begun conducting missions in Syria.{{cite news, url= http://www.rg.ru/2016/02/01/istrebitel-site.html , script-title=ru:Россия перебросила в Сирию новейшие Су-35С , last=Птичкин, first= Сергей , date=1 February 2016, publisher= Rossiyskaya Gazeta, access-date=1 February 2016, language=ru A Russian military adviser died in a hospital in Syria on 1 February after suffering severe wounds when a Syrian army training center in Homs Province was shelled. Speaking shortly after the formal start of the UN-mediated Geneva Syria peace talks (2016), Geneva 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″.{{cite news, url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-lavrov-idUKKCN0VC0SM , title= Lavrov: Russia won't stop Syria strikes until 'terrorists' defeated, work= Reuters, access-date=4 February 2016, date=3 February 2016 In early February 2016, intensive Russian strikes contributed to the success of the Syrian army and its allies′ Northern Aleppo offensive (2016), offensive operation to the northwest of Aleppo that severed a major rebel supply line to Turkey.{{cite news, url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/backed-by-russian-jets-syrian-army-closes-in-on-aleppo_us_56b37778e4b08069c7a63e09, title= Backed By Russian Jets, Syrian Army Closes In On Aleppo, agency= Reuters, access-date=5 February 2016, date=4 February 2016{{cite web, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0VC169, title=Russia and Turkey trade accusations over Syria, author=Tom Perry, Jack Stubbs and Estelle Shirbon, website=Reuters, date=5 February 2016, agency=Reuters UK, access-date=5 February 2016March 2016 – mid-October 2016
{{main, Palmyra offensive (March 2016), 2016 Aleppo summer campaign, Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016) On 1 March 2016, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that the truce, formally referred to as a "Geneva peace talks on Syria (2016)#Cessation of hostilities (27 February 2016), cessation of hostilities", that had been in effect from 27 February 2016 at 00:00 (Damascus time),{{cite news , work=Reuters, date=26 February 2016, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-un-idUSKCN0VZ2WM , title=U.N. demands Syria parties halt fighting, peace talks set for March 7 was largely holding and becoming more stable. According to the state–run RIA Novosti′s report of 1 March 2016, all the planes at the Russian Khmeimim base had been grounded for four days. 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. 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.{{cite news , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35807689 , title=Syria conflict: Russia's Putin orders 'main part' of forces out , work=BBC World Service , date=14 March 2016 , access-date=14 March 2016 The move was announced on the day when Geneva peace talks on Syria (2016), peace talks on Syria resumed in Geneva.{{cite news , last=Dyomkin , first=Denis , url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-pullout-idUSKCN0WG23C , title=Putin orders start of Russian forces' withdrawal from Syria , work=Reuters , date=14 March 2016 , access-date=14 March 2016 The Russian leader, however, did not give a deadline for the completion of the withdrawal. He also said that both Russian military bases in Syria (Russian naval facility in Tartus, naval base in Tartus and Khmeimim airbase, airbase in Khmeimim) will continue to operate in "routine mode", as the Russian servicemen there will be engaged in monitoring the ceasefire regime. In mid-March 2016, intensive operations by the Russian forces resumed to support the Syrian government′s Palmyra offensive (March 2016), bid to recapture the city of Tadmur that includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmyra, which were fully recaptured from ISIS on 27 March. 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. In early May 2016, news media reported that Russian ground forces had set up what Jane'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. 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.{{cite news, url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36368346, title=Syria conflict: IS 'destroyed helicopters' at Russian base, publisher=BBC, date=24 May 2016, access-date=24 May 2016{{cite news, last1=Eremenko, first1=Alexey, last2=Ortiz, first2=Erik, url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/blasts-hit-syria-s-strategic-tiyas-base-used-russians-stratfor-n579471, title=Blasts Hit Syria's Strategic Tiyas Base Used by Russians: Stratfor, publisher=NBC News, date=24 May 2016, access-date=24 May 2016 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.{{cite web, url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/05/25/russian-attack-helicopters-destroyed-in-syria-us-officials-say-accident-to-blame.html, title=Russian attack helicopters destroyed in Syria; US officials say 'accident' to blame, publisher=Fox News, date=25 May 2016, access-date=25 May 2016 On 8 July 2016, a Syrian Mil Mi-24, Mi-25 (a Russian Mil Mi-24 variants, Mi-35, according to other unofficial military sources) was destroyed on the ground from a United States-made BGM-71 TOW east of Palmyra, with two Russian pilots confirmed dead. A few days after, Russia announced it had employed strategic Tu-22M3 bombers, for the first time since the partial ceasefire came into force, to deliver airstrikes on terrorist targets east of the towns of Palmyra and Al-Sukhnah, Syria, Al-Sukhnah, and the village of Arak, Syria, Arak.{{citation needed, date=February 2020 On 1 August 2016, a Russian Mil Mi-8, Mi-8AMTSh transport helicopter was shot down on its way back to the Khmeimim base from a humanitarian mission to Aleppo by ground fire over Al-Nusra Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham-controlled area in Idlib province. Three crew members and two officers from the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria were killed in the crush, then their corpses were desecrated by the rebels arrived on the scene. On 16 August 2016, Russian Tu-22M bombers and Su-34 strike fighters began to use Iran′s Hamedan Airbase for conducting raids over Syria. For a period of time, from late June until the end of the 2016 Aleppo summer campaign, Summer Aleppo campaign on 11 September, Russian Aerospace Forces and the Naval Infantry (Russia), Russian naval infantry advisors were heavily involved in the various battles against the rebels and their allies throughout the campaign.{{cite web, url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-troops-head-aleppo-city/, title=Russian troops head to Aleppo City, first=Leith, last=Fadel, date=29 August 2016, publisher=Al-Masdar News, access-date=30 August 2016, archive-date=9 October 2018, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009120836/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-troops-head-aleppo-city/, url-status=dead Russia′s air force took active part in the Syrian government′s Aleppo offensive (September 2016), re-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.{{cite web, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/syria-war-aleppo-hospital-hit-time-161003154906472.html, publisher=Al Jazeera, title=Syria′s war:US suspends, date=4 October 2016 The Russian tactics and weapons used in the offensive have been compared to those used Battle of Grozny (1999–2000), in Grozny against Chechen separatists.{{cite news, title=The agony of Aleppo, url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21707937-americas-ceasefire-deal-russia-never-stood-chance-agony-aleppo, access-date=12 October 2016, newspaper=The Economist, date=1 October 2016{{cite news, title=Putin Is Playing by Grozny Rules in Aleppo, url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/09/29/putin-is-playing-by-chechen-rules-in-aleppo-syria-russia/, access-date=12 October 2016, work=FP{{cite news, author1=David Gardner, title=Russia aims to turn Aleppo into another Grozny, url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f59f6ee-84a4-11e6-8897-2359a58ac7a5, access-date=12 October 2016, work=Financial Times, date=28 September 2016{{cite news , first1=Alan , last1=Philps, title=Memories of Grozny drive Putin's Aleppo campaign, url=http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/memories-of-grozny-drive-putins-aleppo-campaign, access-date=12 October 2016, work=The National, date=29 September 2016 The U.S. government publicly stated that Russia was committing ″flagrant violations of international law″ in Syria and urged investigation of war crimes.US-Russian Feud Over Syria Escalates with Talk of War CrimesMid-October 2016 – December 2016
{{main, Aleppo offensive (October–November 2016), Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016) On 15 October 2016, the aircraft carrier {{ship, Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, , 2 sailed from Kola Bay at the centre of a Carrier battle group, task group, which included the Kirov-class battlecruiser, ''Kirov''-class missile cruiser {{ship, Russian battlecruiser, Pyotr Velikiy, , 2, a pair of {{sclass, Udaloy, destroyer, 1s and other vessels, to deploy to the Mediterranean in support of Russian forces operating in Syria. ''Admiral Kuznetsov''{{'s jets were reported to be flying off the Syrian coast on 8 November. On 14 November, a MiG-29K crashed en route back to the carrier following a planned mission over Syria, while an Su-33 crashed, again while trying to recover to ''Admiral Kuznetsov'' following a sortie on 5 December. On 17 November 2016, the Russian ministry of defence said that three "well-known" commanders of Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate formerly known as Al-Nusra Front, among other "terrorists", had been killed in Russian strikes fired by Su-33 fighter jets based on ''Admiral Kuznetsov'', in the province of Idlib.{{citation needed, date=February 2020 Other ships as well as K-300P Bastion-P were also reported to have taken part in a renewed bombing campaign, after a partial hiatus in the raids since 18 October. In late November, satellite images emerged showing several of ''Admiral Kuznetsov''{{'s fixed wing aircraft operating from Khmeimim (air base), Hmeimim Air Base in Latakia Governorate, Latakia, with suggestions made that the number of sorties flown from the carrier is less than has been suggested by the Russian Ministry of Defence (Russia), Ministry of Defence. Problems with the ship's Arresting gear, arrestor cables was cited as being part of the reason for the crash of the MiG-29K, which was circling the ship when it suffered an engine failure. At around the same time, an image was released by the Royal Netherlands Navy, Dutch frigate {{HNLMS, De Ruyter, F804, 6 showing the {{sclass2, Nanuchka, corvette, 2 ''Mirazh'' being towed back to the Black Sea. By mid-December 2016 the Syrian government, with the help of its allies including Russia, Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016), re-established control of Aleppo.January 2017 – June 2017
{{see also, Syrian Civil War ceasefires#Third ceasefire attempt (December 2016 – February 2017), Palmyra offensive (2017), East Aleppo offensive (January–April 2017), Eastern Homs offensive (2017), Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017) On 1 January 2017, Russian and Turkish warplanes conducted joint airstrikes against ISIL as part of the Battle of al-Bab.{{cite web, url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-russia-continue-joint-airstrikes-against-isil-near-al-bab.aspx?pageID=238&nID=108021&NewsCatID=352, title=Turkey, Russia continue joint airstrikes against ISIL near al-Bab, work=Hürriyet Daily News, date=2 January 2017 On 6 January, the Russian Defense Ministry, with a reference to a Moscow/Ankara-brokered ceasefire effective as of 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 the ''Admiral Kuznetsov'' battle group. However, five days afterwards, a Fox 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 had arrived on 9 January. On 13 January, the Syrian Arab Army launched an offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL in the Eastern Homs Governorate with the goal of recapturing Palmyra and its surrounding countryside. ISIL forces had Palmyra offensive (December 2016), retaken the city in a sudden counterattack. On 2 March 2017, the city of Palmyra was captured with the aid of Russian airstrikes and special operations forces according to Sergey Rudskoy, the chief of theJuly 2017 – December 2017
{{see also, Central Syria campaign (July–October 2017), Hama offensive (September 2017), Eastern Syria campaign (September–December 2017) On 24 July, the Russian military announced that Russia had begun to deploy Military Police (Russia), military 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, and mapped out in early July by Russia, the U.S, and Jordan: checkpoints and monitoring posts around safe zones in southwest Syria and in Eastern Ghouta were said to have been set up. Another such deployment was effected in early August — north of the city of Homs. In August 2017, the Russian military announced that Al-Sukhnah, Syria, Al-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. On 5 September 2017, the Russian defence ministry said that the breaking of the three-year Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017), siege of Deir ez-Zor had been effected with active participation of Russian aviation and navy. President Putin congratulated both President Bashar Assad and the Russian commanders on "a very important strategic victory" (in his spokesman′s words). Humanitarian aid was delivered to pro-government inhabitants of the city by the Russian servicemen. The Russian aviation continued active support of the Syrian forces operating in Deir ez-Zor.Syrian forces break ISIS siege of Deir ez-Zor airfield after Russian air strikeJanuary 2018 – August 2018
{{main, Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017 – February 2018), Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018), 2018 Southern Syria offensive In January—February 2018, the Russian air force continued to provide combat support to the Syrian Army in its Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–present), offensive operations in the Hama Governorate and the Idlib Governorate. The Russian forces stationed in Syria Roman Filipov, lost a Sukhoi Su-25#Su-25SM, Su-25SM in the Idlib Governorate, Idlib province on 3 February 2018. Following reports about multiple Russian private contractor casualties in the Battle of Khasham, U.S. air and artillery strike on pro-government forces near the town of Khasham in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate that occurred on 7 February 2018, the contingent of regular Russian forces stationed in Syria appeared to have been reinforced,В Сирии замечены новейшие российские истребители – на фоне активизации армии Асада и недовольства действиями СШАSeptember 2018 – March 2019
{{main, As-Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018) On 17 September 2018, during Syria missile strikes (September 2018), multiple missile strikes by Israeli F-16 jets at targets in western Syria, Russia′s Ilyushin Il-18V, Il-20 ELINT reconnaissance plane returning to Khmeimim Air Base, with 15 Russian servicemen on board, was inadvertently downed by a Syrian S-200 (missile), S-200 surface-to-air missile. Russia′s defence minister the following day blamed Israel′s military for the accidentШойгу: Россия не оставит без ответа действия Израиля, приведшие к гибели экипажа Ил-20: Глава Минобороны РФ заявил, что израильские истребители нанесли удары без предупрежденияApril 2019 – September 2019
{{main, Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019) Fighting intensified in Idlib and nearby areas at the end of April 2019, Syrian and Russian forces striking the rebel targets. 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. 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. On 18 July, rebel commanders were cited by Reuters 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. 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. 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 the Idlib demilitarization (2018–present), Idlib deescalation zone for the Syrian Army after the complete liberation of Southern Idlib Governorate.October 2019
On 13 October 2019, Russian ground forces, along with the Syrian army entered and took the SDF-held areas on northeastern Syria following an agreement reached between the SDF and the Syrian government, shortly after Turkey commenced its 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, cross-border incursion into the Rojava, Kurdish-dominated region and the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War#October 2019: U.S. withdrawal from northeastern Syria, U.S. troops withdrew from the area.{{cite web, url=https://thedefensepost.com/2019/10/13/syria-government-russia-kobani-manbij-sdf/, title=Syrian government forces set to enter Kobani and Manbij after SDF deal, date=13 October 2019, website=The Defense Post, language=en-US, access-date=13 October 2019 Russia′s military police units began patrolling the town ofNovember 2019 – September 2020
{{main, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020), 2020 Balyun airstrikes On 2 November 2019, Russian aviation struck a concentration of militants in the area of Jisr al-Shughur in the Idlib 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. 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, the Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–present)#Army captures the M5 highway and continued Turkish clashes, establishment of full government control of the area along the entire Transport in Syria#Motorways, M5 highway for first time since 2012. 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. On 20 February, Turkish defence minister Hulusi 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. On 27 February 2020, according to reports from the scene, two RussianSince October 2020
{{main, 2020 Kafr Takharim airstrike On 26 October 2020, the 2020 Kafr Takharim airstrike, Russian airstrike on a training base run by Sham Legion, Faylaq al-Sham, a major rebel group backed by Turkey, in the town of Kafr Takharim was reported to have killed at least 78 Turkish-backed militia fighters. On 19 April 2021, Russian warplanes executed airstrikes on militant facilities in central Syria, northeast the city of Palmyra (modern), Palmyra according to the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, Russian 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. The UK-basedAssessments of tactics and effectiveness
By late February 2016, the Russian Air Force conducted around 60 airstrikes daily, while the American-led coalition averaged seven. Pro-government website Al-Masdar News said that these Russian airstrikes have proven particularly effective against the ISIS oil trade and supply routes in the Syrian Desert. 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 kilometers of territory. 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." In January 2016, a few months after the start of Russia's involvement in Syria, diplomat Ranjit Gupta (diplomat), Ranjit Gupta wrote in ''The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, The 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." Gupta continued: {{blockquote, 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.{{cite journal, last1=Gupta, first1=Ranjit, title=Understanding the War in Syria and the Roles of External Players: Way Out of the Quagmire?, journal=The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, date=Jan 2016, volume=105, issue=1, page=6, doi=10.1080/00358533.2016.1128630, s2cid=155974687 In February 2016, Professor Fawaz Gerges, Fawaz A. Gerges of the London School of Economics opined the Russian military intervention had turned out to be a game-changer in the Syrian Civil War:{{cite news , first=Fawaz A. , last=Gerges , author-link=Fawaz Gerges , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35562943 , title=Syria war: Tide turns Assad's way amid ceasefire push , work=BBC World Service , date=13 February 2016 , access-date=15 March 2016 ″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.″ Vincent R. Stewart, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, stated in February 2016 that the "Russian reinforcement has changed the calculus completely" and added that Assad "is in a much stronger negotiating position than he was just six months ago". 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. In the week following the start of combat missions, the website RealClear Defense, part of the RealClearPolitics group, published an assessment of the effectiveness of the ''Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, Admiral Kuznetsov'' as a platform for airstrikes, noting the small size of its air group (estimated at a total of eight Su-33 and four MiG-29K aircraft), the difficulties with the MiG-29K, which is seen as the more effective platform for strike missions, the smaller amounts of Precision-guided munition, smart weapons for the Su-33 (which is primarily a fleet air defence aircraft), and the lack of aircraft catapults on the carrier, which limits the take-off weight of its aircraft. The Russian tactics and weapons used in the offensive have been compared to those used in the Battle of Grozny (1999–2000) against Chechen separatists.Weapons and munitions employed
Russian forces in Syria were reported to have used a mix of precision-guided munitions and Unguided bomb, unguided weapons.{{cite web, url=http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-half-baked-air-war-syria-14022 , title=Russia's Half-Baked Air War in Syria , last1=Majumdar , first1=Dave , date=6 October 2015 , website=The National Interest , access-date=20 October 2015{{cite web, title = Syria: Russia's shameful failure to acknowledge civilian killings {{! Amnesty International, date=23 December 2015 , url = https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/12/syria-russias-shameful-failure-to-acknowledge-civilian-killings/, publisher = Amnesty International, access-date = 25 December 2015 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.{{cite web, last=Bodner, first=Matthew, title=Russia Shows Early Success, New Capabilities in Syria, publisher=Defense News, date=18 October 2015, access-date=21 October 2015, url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/warfare/2015/10/18/russia-shows-early-success-new-capabilities-syria/74041722/ Most Russian jets employ the SVP-24 guidance system, which allows them to use unguided munitions with high precision, close to the precision of guided ones, with substantially smaller costs. Russia also used cruise missiles launched from corvettes, {{sclass, Admiral Grigorovich, frigate, 4 frigates, and Kilo-class submarines, as well as artillery in the form of howitzers and multiple rocket launchers. The air campaign was estimated to cost between $2.3 and $4 million a day in its early phase. The 3M-54 Klub, 3M-14T cruise missiles, that Russia has used extensively, cost roughly $1.2 million per unit. Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said in August 2021 that Russia had tested more than 300 weapons over the course of its campaign in Syria.{{cite news , title=All of Russia's latest weapons tested in Syria, says defense chief , url=https://tass.com/defense/1331715 , publisher=TASS , date=30 August 2021Reports of civilian casualties and war crimes
{{see also, April 2016 Idlib bombings, Atarib market massacre, Siege of Eastern Ghouta, Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016), Ma'arrat al-Numan market bombing According toCooperation with Iran
{{See also, Iranian involvement in the Syrian Civil War, Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition 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.{{cite news, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/iranian-commanders-killed-syria-151013192529038.html, title=Two more Iranian commanders killed in Syria, publisher=Al Jazeera, access-date=15 October 2015, date=14 October 2015 It is stated that the Syrian Arab Army receives substantial support from the Quds Force; in June 2015, some reports suggested that the Iranian military were effectively in charge of the Syrian government troops on the battlefield. After the Second Battle of Idlib, loss of Idlib province to a Northwestern Syria offensive (April–June 2015), rebel 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; on 24 July, ten days after the signing of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1, P5+1 countries, General Qasem Soleimani visited Moscow to devise the details of the plan for coordinated military action in Syria. In mid-September 2015, the first reports of new detachments from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards arriving in Tartus and Latakia in western Syria were made. With much of the Syrian Arab Army and National Defence Force units deployed to more volatile fronts, Naval Infantry (Russia), Russian Marines and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have relieved their positions by installing military checkpoints inside the cities of Slunfeh (east Latakia Governorate), Masyaf (East Tartus Governorate) and Ras al-Bassit (Latakia coastal city). There were also further reports of new Iranian contingents being deployed to Syria in early October 2015. 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.{{cite news, url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/khamenei-calls-for-stronger-iranian-military-to-deter-enemies/article26610890/ , title=Iranian troops join ground offensive in Syria , work=The Globe and Mail , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005173807/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/khamenei-calls-for-stronger-iranian-military-to-deter-enemies/article26610890/ , archive-date=5 October 2015 After the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Ali 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.{{cite news, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-iran-idUSKBN0U12OM20151218 , title=Exclusive: Iran to match stance with Russia in push for Syria deal, work=Reuters, access-date=20 December 2015, date=18 December 2015 The use of Iran′s Hamadan 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 governmentReactions
{{For, further Russian comments on Syria and Russian initiatives since 30 September 2015 not part of this military operation, Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil WarSyria
{{flagu, 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 under international law and called for other countries to join the "non-criminal" Russian intervention in Syria.International
Supranational
United Nations – On 31 October 2015, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in an interview with Spanish daily El Mundo (Spain), El Mundo "The future of Assad must be decided by the Syrian people," and "The Syrian government states that President Assad takes part (in any transitional 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." In 2016, retired war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, who was researching rights abuses in Syria as part of the Independent 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. In 2017, she complained that Russia was using its UN Security Council veto to prevent prosecution of war crimes in Syria, leading her to resign from her role in Syria. {{flagu, NATO – NATO has condemned Russian air strikes and urged Russia to stop supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On 8 October 2015, they renewed assurances to defend the allies in view of the "escalation of Russian military activities."{{cite web, url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34471849, title=Syria crisis: Nato renews pledge amid Russia 'escalation', date=8 October 2015, publisher=BBC, access-date=8 October 2015 Military intervention against ISIL#3 December 2014, 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. "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." 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. In 2017, the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations, an international organization consisting of the only partially recognized republics Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria, adopted a joint statement in which supported the policy of the Russian Federation in Syria.National governments
{{flagu, Armenia provides support for the Russian operations in Syria by providing operational and logistical support.{{cite news, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/12/resurgent-russia-takes-tenacious-turkey-151209071618920.html, title=Resurgent Russia takes on tenacious Turkey, publisher=Militias and religious agents
Representatives of the Kurds in Syria, Kurdish People's Protection Units, YPG and Democratic Union Party (Syria), PYD expressed their support for Russian air strikes against Islamic State, al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham. They also asked for Russian help in weaponry and for the cooperation with Russia in the fight against Islamic State.PYD leader: Russia will stop Turkey from intervening in SyriaSee also
{{Portal, Asia, War * List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Syrian Civil War- That include Russian aircraft lost during the Syrian Civil War. * Military history of the Russian Federation * Humanitarian aid during the Syrian Civil War#Russia, Humanitarian aid provided by Russia during the War in Syria * Russian Armed Forces casualties in Syria * Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (August–December 2015) {{clearReferences
{{Reflist, 30emFurther reading
* {{cite news , last=Birnbaum , first=Michael , title=The secret pact between Russia and Syria that gives Moscow carte blanche , newspaper=The Washington Post , date=2016-01-15 , url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/15/the-secret-pact-between-russia-and-syria-that-gives-moscow-carte-blanche/ , access-date=2020-11-25External links
* {{Commons category-inline