Recap of Russian ops in Syria

The chief of the main operational directorate of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoy, has provided a summary of the Russian military's activities in Syria at the 2017 International Military Technical Forum.

Rudskoy told a roundtable conference that following an appeal by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to provide assistance to fight international terrorism Russian President Vladimir Putin, on 30 September 2015, ordered his military to launch an operation against ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria.

“Combat aviation units of the Russian Aerospace Forces are the basis of the force's grouping,” Rudskoy said.

“At the start of the military operation, the situation in Syria was critical. The government of Syria conducted warfare against terrorism entirely on its own. In fact, units of so-called 'moderate opposition' joined with ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, which were well-funded, well-armed, and supported by their foreign sponsors. They controlled more than 70% of Syria's territory, and continued their offensive from all directions.”

According to the colonel-general, the actions of the Russian forces significantly damaged the control and logistics systems of the terrorist groups. Main weapons and munitions supply routes have been cut off and the organisations have lost financial sources from oil trafficking.

The Russian air force performed 28 000 combat sorties, and conducted about 90 000 strikes during the operation in Syria.

“The actions of the Russian forces allowed the Syrian army to turn the tide.”

Territory controlled by Syrian army has increased four-fold from 19 000 to 78 000 square kilometres since the start of the Russian operation.

Large illegal armed formations near Hama and Homs have been defeated. The Latakia province has been completely liberated as have Palmyra and Aleppo. The primary highway leading from Damascus to the north of the country has been unblocked.

The government troops have taken oil and gas fields back under their control and the north-eastern regions of the Aleppo province located to the west of Lake Assad have been liberated.

In the south of Syria, a 181-kilometre section of the Syria-Iraqi border as well as the 1 950-kilometre Syria-Jordanian border in the provinces of al-Suwayda and Damascus have been taken back under control of the Syrian army.

As a result of agreements between the armed opposition and the Syrian government, which were achieved under the facilitation of Russia and Turkey, a ceasefire regime has been established in the Syrian Arab Republic.

“Issues of establishing of four de-escalation zones in Syria have been approved during the fifth round of negotiations in Astana. De-escalation zones located in the south-west of Syria, in East Ghouta, and to the north from Homs are operating successfully. Issues of establishing another zone in the Idlib province are being discussed,” the general said.

Currently, the control over the ceasefire regime observation is carried out by units of the Russian military police.

The establishment of these de-escalation zones has allowed for a ceasefire between armed formations of moderate opposition and government troops, as well as to stabilise the situation in southern and central areas of Syria.

The final efforts now are focused on the last ISIS stronghold near Deir ez-Zor.

ISIS has concentrated its forces near Deir ez-Zor and insurgents from Mosul and most battle-ready units have been redeployed there.

Units of Syrian military, supported by the Russian air force are developing their offensive on Deir ez-Zor from three directions. Moreover, a large ISIS grouping has been encircled near Uqayribat. It is being defeated.

Al-Sukhnah has been liberated from ISIS.

syria.mil.ru