Air Strikes by SyAAF and VKS, 5 April 2017

The Russians continued launching sporadic air strikes between midnight and 02.00hrs in the morning. Then they launched a wave of six…

The Russians continued launching sporadic air strikes between midnight and 02.00hrs in the morning. Then they launched a wave of six fighter-bombers that targeted the Jishr ash-Shughour area, between 03.00 and 03.40hrs. Seven additional air strikes hit the same area by 06.00hrs, and 10 others by 08.00hrs.

Around 08.00hrs, Assadists launched a major wave of air strikes primarily targeting Khan Sheykhoun area — yes, ‘again’. This included a Su-22 and two L-39s from Shayrat (08.00–08.08), which were ‘joined’ by two Russian Su-25s (08.10), and another Su-22 from Shayrat, at 08.11. At 08.14, three helicopters were launched from Hama, followed by another at 08.27 — all of which went in northern direction. Ditto in regards of a Su-22 launched from Tiyas at 09.12 and 09.19, plus a MiG-21 and three MiG-23 from Hama, at 09.20. Moreover, a Su-22 launched from Shayrat at 09.22, another from Kweres at 09.23, a MiG-23 from Hama at 09.27, and another Su-22 from Shayrat at 09.27. Most of these hit Khan Sheykhoun and Sarqib. By 12.00hrs, a total of 35 air strikes by SyAAF have hit the area between Khan Sheykhoun in the west, Sarqib in the north, and Latamina and Halfaya in the south. Presence of HTS or none, Assadists and the Russians were obviously determined to complete the destruction caused the day earlier, or at least to disrupt evacuation of the wounded.

Meanwhile, around 10.00, a total of three Su-22s (all from Shayrat) and two MiG-23s also heavily bombed Talbiseh (north of Homs), while Shayrat also launched two Su-22s and two MiG-23s.Namely, the Banyan al-Marsus OR re-launched its offensive into Manshiye, and reportedly overrun additional Assadist positions in that district of Dera’a.

Two Russian fighter-bombers targeted the Idlib (city) area around 14.00hrs, but overall, the day remained one by Assadist flying activity. For example, four MiG-23s (apparently all of them from Shayrat) targeted the Sarqib area around 14.20–14.30hrs. Around 15.00hrs, a helicopter, one L-39, two MiG-21s, two MiG-23 and a Su-22 each bombed the Mardas area, on the eastern side of Kfar Zita salient, where the HTS launched a vicious counter-attack, that kicked the IRGC out of the place.

By the time, the fighting around Mhrada (predominantly Christian town on the western side of Kfar Zita salient) — obviously related to the fighting for nearby Halfaya — went so far that local Christians issued an official call for Hezbollah and Assadists to leave their town, stop occupying schools and deploying heavy weapons from inside densely-populated areas, because they are only provoking counterattacks.

Another wave of Assadist air strikes was launched between 15.00 and 17.00hrs, primarily from Shayrat (up to 10 take-offs by MiG-23s and Su-22s), and Hama (up to 10 take-offs by helicopters, MiG-21s, MiG-23s and L-39s).

Russians, which flew only sporadically the last two days — probably due to the need to maintain their aircraft and give their crews some rest after all the flying of the last two weeks — returned with a wave of 10 aircraft that commenced launching at 18.20hrs, and primarily targeted the area between Jishr ash-Shughour and Ma’arat an-Nauman.

Following a break of nearly 1,5 hours, operations continued by a combined wave of L-39s from Hama and Russian fighter-bombers from Hmemmem, around 20.30hrs. Lasting for the rest of the evening (i.e. until midnight), and including about 20 aircraft in total, most of this has targeted the Sarqib area.

Totals

VKS

fighter-bombers: 68

helicopters: 3

UAVs: 3

SyAAF

helicopters: 21

L-39s: 15

MiG-21: 4

MiG-23: 20

Su-22: 24

Su-24: 13

Gauging from these statistics, it was another ‘almost a day off’ for the VKS, but a very intensive day for the SyAAF, which flew something like its new record — at least for this year.