Air Strikes by VKS & SyAAF, 9 May 2017

The VKS launched two fighter-bombers shortly after the midnight, and Hama followed with a single L-39 at 00.40: although the Russians…

The VKS launched two fighter-bombers shortly after the midnight, and Hama followed with a single L-39 at 00.40: although the Russians passed high above Lataminah, they didn’t bomb anything there. Instead, they went all the way down to southern Syria, where they flew entirely unnecessary and provocative air strikes on positions of US/Jordanian-supported Southern Front/FSyA — which, on an order from US/Jordanian-controlled MOC in Amman, is observing a strict cease-fire with Assadists, the IRGC and the Russians already since late February 2016… The L-39 was active over Lataminah area, together with another Russian fighter-bomber that launched at 01.09hrs. At 02.31, Hama then added its second L-39 — and that was all the activity for that night.

There was no further activity until 09.33hrs, when a Su-22 launched from Tiyas. The Russians were back in action by launching one aircraft from Hmemmem at 09.42, and three at 10.01. Shayrat added another Su-22 at 10.10, and as-Safira a solo helicopter each at 10.33 and 11.01. Another Su-22 scrambled from Shayrat at 11.09 (it bombed Lataminah), a UAV was noted above Kfar Nabl around 11.45, and a helicopter (probably Russian) near Sarqib at 11.46. The same area was then visited by two additional UAVs, and a Russian ‘reconnaissance’ aircraft, few minutes later.

As-Safira launched three helicopters (at 12.28, 12.42, and 12.49): all turned east, and — according to Amaq — these bombed Dibsi Afnan, a town on the highway connecting Aleppo with Raqqa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbHa8kGOoIE

Hama launched another at 12.49, while the Russians launched two fighter-bombers at 12.44 and 12.46.

There followed a break — apparently because the Russians were then busy running their Victory Day Parade at Hmemmem AB, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khdFu22fM4U

Thus, it was only at 15.59, that another VKS fighter-bomber launched from Hmemmem AB: this remained the only such activity for the entire afternoon.

At 17.50, a single helicopter took off from as-Safira to bomb Daesh in eastern Aleppo. One Russian fighter-bomber launched at 18.02 from Hmemmem, followed by a Su-24 from Tiyas at 18.11, and a (Russian) helicopter from Hmemmem at 18.17 (probably transfer of some VIPs after celebrations of the Victory Day were over). One more VKS fighter-bomber launched from Hmemmem at 18.37hrs. This was followed by two others, about 20 minutes later: all of these bombed the Lataminah area. Three other Russian fighter-bombers attacked the same area between 19.30 and 21.00hrs.

Hama launched one L-39 at 20.58, followed by Shayrat that launched one at 21.01. Both attacked targets in Lataminah area — together with two Russian fighter-bombers — one of which arrived ‘only’ around 21.45hrs, at the same time a third VKS fighter-bomber was scrambled form Hmemmem AB.

Another L-39 took off from Shayrat at 22.17, and one more from Nayrab at 22.32.

Final sortie of the day was launched by Russians at 23.04hrs.

Totals

VKS

fighter-bombers: 21

helicopters: 4

UAVs: 4

recce: 1

SyAAF

helicopters: 5

L-39s: 6

MiG-21s: 0

MiG-23s: 0

Su-22s: 2

Su-24s: 1

An add-on: another ‘photo’ of the sole VKS A-50U deployed at Hmemmem AB appeared yesterday — in form of a still from a video taken during the Russian ‘Victory Day’ Parade at that air base. This is a further confirmation of what I’ve reported here: Russia Has Sent One of Its A-50U Radar Planes to Syria.