The Russian intervention in Syria was characterized by a clear turnaround compared to the period of the Soviet Union. In fact, the Russian contingent was made up of multi-weapon units (light infantry, genius and artillery units), supported by ground attack and transport aircraft, instead of massive deployments of armored and mechanized units.
Considering the conformation of a good part of the Syrian territory (vast desert areas without natural shelters) the use of helicopters was of fundamental importance (also considering the Soviet experiences in the Afghan war). The Russians have deployed the HAVOCs and the new Ka-52 ALLIGATOR, also equipped with the 9M120 ATAKA laser-guided missiles.
The helicopters often operated in symbiosis with the SUKHOI SU-25 FROGFOOT (photo opening) - specialized in ground attack -, which dealt with suppressing the enemy's anti-aircraft defenses, in particular the optical aiming artillery like the pieces anti-aircraft S-60 from 57 mm.
In addition, Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters have conducted numerous missions of infiltration of special units behind ISIS lines.
Moscow's strategy has seen widespread recourse to the use of special forces (elements of 3ᵃ and 22 Sp brigade Spetsnaz), both for direct actions against militants of the Islamic state, and as trainers for Hezbollah's forces and Iranian volunteers, sent to Syria to support the Assad government.
Following the now widespread Doctrine Gerasimov, postulated in the 2013 by the former chief of staff of the Russian armed forces Valerij Gerasimov, on the concept of ambiguous war (with this term we want to identify a break with the concept of asymmetric warfare) and the use of special forces as a force multiplier, the Spetsnaz could have carried out in-depth reconnaissance actions, identification of targets, but also direct actions such as the so-called wet, or targeted killings of commanders and personalities linked to ISIS and the al-Nusra terrorist group.
In confirmation of the Spetsnaz activities in Syria, the 5 March 2017, the then deputy commander of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Kartapolov revealed, in a television interview, the key role played by the special units in reconquering the city of Palmyra, in especially in the neutralization of the fortified positions that the Islamic militiamen had set up in the city.
As in previous interventions in the Crimea, Moscow tried to hide the presence of special forces in the Syrian conflict, however it is doubtful that the Spetsnaz played a crucial role regarding the destabilization of the enemy defensive device, leading to numerous infiltrations and lighting up the targets for air strikes.
Photo: Russian MoD Fed
