Air Strikes by VKS & SyAAF, 9 June 2017

This day began with some very intensive Russian flying, possibly related to the drive of the IRGC’s Liwa Imam Ali towards the Iraqi border…

This day began with some very intensive Russian flying, possibly related to the drive of the IRGC’s Liwa Imam Ali towards the Iraqi border, north of Tanf - which is held by the US-supported FSyA. This operation is supported by Hezbollah/IRGC-operated UAVs of Iranian origin. Here a video from one of these, puportedly ‘monitoring US forces’:

Five Russian aircraft launched nearly-simultaneously from Hmemmem AB at 00.08. They were followed (this is actually contrary to generally accepted tactics), by two helicopters and several UAVs, all of which were airborne by 00.18. At 00.19, also a L-39 launched from Hama AB. While it’s unknown where all the aircraft and helicopters went, UAVs were all active over southern Idlib.

At 00.21, a single helicopter launched from Marj Ruhhayil AB and went in southern direction (Dera’a), and more UAVs were detected while airborne over that city, as well as over the Jishr ash-Shughour area, in western Idlib.

At 01.09, one Su-24 launched from Tiyas in northern direction, followed by another at 01.20. Both went in northern direction — i.e. probably targeted the Daesh. Another helicopter launched from Marj Ruhhayil at 01.24, followed by another UAV, while in the north by 01.33 also one Russian reconnaissance aircraft was airborne over Idlib.

As if all of this was not enough, three additional helicopters got airborne from Marj Ruhhayil between 01.40 and 01.47. Dera’a was thus subjected to a series of air strikes that lasted by 02.00hrs — and were ‘supported’ by 3–4 UAVs. Between others, Russian fighter-bombers deployed incendiary bombs to hit the Omari Mosque - the very epicentre of the Syrian revolution of 2011 (it was also the first object to get assaulted by Assadist thugs, back in March 2011). At 02.33, a Su-24 then launched from Dmeyr in north-eastern direction.

Around 03.50, one VKS fighter-bomber took-off from Hmemmem AB, and at 03.58 the first of four Su-24 that got airborne by 04.18 launched from Tiyas. Meanwhile, the Russians launched another fighter-bomber from Hmemmem AB, at 04.11. Another Su-24 took off from Dmeyr AB at 05.04.

More activity followed once the sun was up. At 09.43, one Russian fighter-bomber was sighted above Houla, going in southern direction (i.e. for Dera’a), then a Su-22 launched from Tiyas at 09.53. Following the ever more frequently observed pattern of combining VKS’ and Assadist aircraft, one fighter-bomber took-off from Hmemmem AB at 11.20, and then a Su-22 from Shayrat at 11.54.

Marj Ruhhayil returned to the business of bombing Dera’a by launching two helicopters around 11.55, and then two more by 12.15, one more by 12.24, and one at 12.40. Meanwhile, as-Safira also launched one helicopter but this went in eastern direction, i.e. flew a mission related to the Daesh. Indeed, it is possible that the strikes in question are related to reports about additional air strikes on Mayadin.

At 12.50, a single Su-24 reportedly launched from an-Nassiriyah — which would be big news, then this air base is not known to have launched any operations in years.

Around the same time, the Russian reconnaissance aircraft (they can remain airborne literally ‘all day’) was reportedly approaching southern Syria, and at 13.03 Hmemmem AB launched one fighter-bomber — again in direction of Dera’a (for some of scenes from there yesterday, see here). The same area was also visited by one Su-22 (probably from Dmeyr) around 13.13. Seems, the Russians are now providing cover for Assadist bombers. Similar pattern was repeated at 13.43, when one Russian fighter-bomber launched from Hmemmem AB, and this was followed by a Su-22 from Shayrat, at 13.48, another from Tiyas at 14.16, and then two more from Shayrat, at 14.22 and 14.39.

At 15.25, Marj Ruhhayil launched three helicopters into attacks on Dera’a, indicating there’s probably a major attack on the ground going on, needing all the air support.

Another wave of Su-22s included one example that launched from Tiyas at 16.25, one from Shayrat at 16.28, and three VKS’ fighter-bombers that launched from Hmemmem AB at 16.30, 16.47, and 16.48.

Three additional helicopters were airborne over the Dera’a area around 19.45–19.54.

Back in the north, Kweres launched a single L-39 at 20.28, and Dmeyr a Su-24 at 20.34, while the Russian reconnaissance aircraft was reported as passing over Sarqib at 21.18. At 22.21, Tiyas launched one Su-24, and Kweres another L-39 at 22.54.

At 22.58, two helicopters took off from Marj Ruhhayil, ending what was probably the busiest day since early May this year.

Totals

VKS

fighter-bombers: 14

helicopters: 2

UAVs (including IRGC’s): 11

recce: 1 or 2

SyAAF

L-39s: 3

helicopters: 20

MiG-21s: 0

MiG-23s: 0

Su-22s: 9

Su-24s: 11

Separately from this, the US-supported PKK/PYD/YPG/SDF-attack on Raqqa is heating up, with ground forces reaching outskirts on the western and eastern side of the city, and pushing forward with intensive US CAS (CAS = close air support):