Air Strikes by VKS & SyAAF, 6 June 2017

Hama AB launched its usual ‘early morning helicopter’ at 03.31, and then one L-39 at 03.58, while Russians launched one fighter-bomber at…

Hama AB launched its usual ‘early morning helicopter’ at 03.31, and then one L-39 at 03.58, while Russians launched one fighter-bomber at 04.04, and another at 04.19. The SyAAF then continued flying at its usual ‘office hours’: one Su-22 took-off from Shayrat at 08.50, one Su-24 from Tiyas at 09.39, and another at 09.54.

One (almost certainly Russian) helicopter was reported above Jishr ash-Shughour at 10.31, and the VKS launched another fighter-bomber at 10.34. these were followed by the sighting of another helicopter over NE Lattakia, the take-off of another fighter-bomber at 10.40, and then the launching of four fighter-bombers at 12.30. Seems, the helicopter activity was related to dropping leaflets with calls for ‘rebels’ to drop their weapons and surrender… Overall, though, the morning remained relatively quiet.

At 13.08, Tiyas launched one Su-24, followed by another at 13.11. One Su-24 got airborne from Dmeyr at 13.12, and another at 13.27. Minutes later, at least two Russian fighter-bombers were reported as passing over Kafir, in western Idlib, in north-eastern direction, and at 13.27 another take-off was reported from Hmemmem AB. Finally, one Su-22 launched from Shayrat at 13.40. It is possible — but not confirmed — that one of VKS aircraft in question bombed Hayan in Western Aleppo. The others targeted Daesh positions in Aziziya, Obaidiya and Rida villages, in the Maskana area of eastern Aleppo.

There followed a longer break — until 16.13, when one VKS fighter-bomber was reported as underway over Hula in south-eastern direction. Two additional take-offs from Hmemmem AB were registered at 16.45 and 16.46. Russian air support was reported from Palmyra area, but — and as usually — no details (nor, indeed, any kind of evidence) provided.

Single helicopter launched from as-Safira at 17.49, and then the evening-flying began with a take-off of one VKS fighter-bomber from Hmemmem AB at 19.14, and another at 19.20.

Late evening was particularly interesting for activity I was expecting to see much more often at earlier times. Namely: lots of night-flying by L-39s. Hama launched on at 20.49, Tiyas got one more airborne at 21.19, Hama another at 21.45, Kweres another at the same time, and then one more at 23.21. The day ended with take-offs from Hmemmem AB at 23.39, launching of one L-39 from Tiyas at 23.46, another from Hama at 23.46, and one Russian reconnaissance aircraft at 23.59. Interestingly, no MiG-23- and next to no Su-22-related activity was registered yesterday. It’s as if the last units operating these have got a day off.

Other — non-related — activity included foremost the US-led anti-Daesh coalition, which bombed positions of the Liwa Fatimioun and Kataib Imam Ali on the Damascus-Baghdad road, about 50 kilometres west of Tanf. The CJTF-OIR claimed destruction of ‘additional pro-Syrian regime forces’, ‘two artillery pieces, an anti-aircraft weapon, and damaging a tank’. Assadists reported ‘two soldiers killed’ (without citing their nationality), damage to artillery pieces and various technicals* — and, as usually, called for killing US troops. Great allies against the Daesh, no doubt. As usually, the USA didn’t move in reaction to the claimed ‘SAA Army attack’ on FSyA further West, that should have yielded the capture of Tel A’abed, south-east of Dmeyr AB. Guess, the CENTCOM considers its ‘de-confliction zone’ there is anything than ‘well-established’…

Notable is that not a single Assadist or Russian air strike in support of the besieged garrison in Dayr az-Zawr was reported yesterday… On the contrary, the CJTF-OIR should’ve flown one air strike on Daesh affiliates in SW Syria, and supposedly killed 20 of extremists.

Totals

VKS

fighter-bombers: 17

helicopters: 2

UAVs: 2

recce: 1

SyAAF

L-39: 8

helicopters: 2

MiG-21s: 0

MiG-23s: 0

Su-22s: 2

Su-24s: 6

• ‘Technical’ is description for what is usually a 4WD-vehicle (say: ‘Toyota pick-up’), carrying various anti-aircraft cannons or machine guns, sometimes a light artillery piece or a small multiple rocket launcher instead.