Air Strikes by VKS & SyAAF, 28 June 2017

The VKS continued launching fighter-bombers from Hmemmem after the midnight-but then suddenly stopped. Take-offs were registered at 00.00…

The VKS continued launching fighter-bombers from Hmemmem after the midnight-but then suddenly stopped. Take-offs were registered at 00.00, 00.02, and 01.10. Almazza launched helicopters in direction of Quneitra at 02.21, 02.36, and at 08.21.

Tiyas began its action by launching a Su-22 towards NE at 08.45, and another towards N at 09.18. Two additional Su-22s were launched at 10.46 and 10.49.

At 11.04, 11.13 and 11.16, the VKS launched four fighter-bombers from Hmemmem AB in SE direction. At least one of these seems to have bombed Nabr as-Sakr, killing several civilians and causing damage to the property. Assadist rockets then hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and the Israelis retaliated by shelling or bombing Samadaniyah ash-Sharqi.

Shayrat launched one Su-22 towards N at 11.32, Tiyas one Su-22 towards N at 11.35, then a Su-24 towards NE at 12.33; Almazza launched one helicopter towards south at 12.35. Tiyas then launched one VKS helicopter at 12.38, a Su-22 at 13.06, and another Russian helicopter at 13.07 (one of VKS’ helicopters in question was this Mi-28).

Around 13.20, a pair of VKS fighter-bombers overflew Jishr ash-Shughour in SE direction, while eight minutes later another pair overflew the same area while underway in NE direction. Apparently: a pair of these escorted this VKS Tu-154 on its way back to Russia, while another flew a CAP over northern central Syria. At 13.39, two VKS fighter-bombers launched from Hmemmem in SE direction, while at 15.46, a single VKS helicopter scrambled from Tiyas in S direction.

Around 15.53, Almazza launched one helicopter in southern direction, and it seems this was something like ‘covered’ by a single MiG-29 that overflew southern Damascus around 16.13. Perhaps there was some kind of ‘suspect’ Israeli activity over the Golan Heights or Jordanian along the border…?

Two helicopters (probably from Khelkhleh, then they would’ve been reported if taking-off from Almazza AB), bombed the Qunaitra area around 16.17, and then at least one MiG-29 was reported by multiple sources while underway towards Dera’a between 16.17 and 17.00hrs.

Shayrat launched one Su-22 at 18.32, and Tiyas one at 18.41. Both went in N direction, while Almazza launched one helicopter at 19.23.

Evening activity began at 21.08, when Tiyas launched a Su-24 towards NE. At 21.34, Almazza launched one helicopter towards south. This was followed by another at 22.21, and one more at 23.10. L-39 was reported over Moarek around 23.41, and then another, shortly before midnight.

Totals

VKS

fighter-bombers: 14

helicopters: 3

UAVs: 4

recce: 0

SyAAF

L-39s: 2

helicopters: 11

MiG-21s: 0

MiG-23s: 0

MiG-29s: 3

Su-22s: 9

Su-24s: 2

Notes:

• 1.) US (and/or ‘Coalition’) aircraft have bombed the Daesh HQ in Jillen, yesterday afternoon.

• 2.) US reconnaissance aircraft have continued their operations along the Syrian coast. These included a USAF RC-135U and a US Navy’s Boeing P-8 Poseidon MPA, yesterday afternoon. While designed to combat subs and surface ships, the latter aircraft is equipped for electronic- and signals-intelligence-collection too (ELINT & SIGINT).

• 3.) The US and allied aircraft and helicopters continued pounding the Daesh in Raqqa — which is meanwhile under a siege — too.