The Kremlin's response to the mortar bomb exploded against the Russian embassy on Sunday was not long in coming. In 48 hours Moscow has deployed at the Bassel al-Assad International, an airport south of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast of Syria connected to the main port of the country, a force capable of hitting targets on the ground.
Satellite images show twelve Su-24 Fencer low-altitude tactical bombers, twelve Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack and support aircraft and four Su-30SM super-engines. To make a comparison: until last week the only planes landed in Syria were the Antonovs loaded with military equipment and "humanitarian aid".
In 48 hours, the Russians have deployed a fleet of 28 aircraft in support of the Damascus government. The implementation of the platforms to the air defense systems of the base demonstrates the clear intention to establish a military outpost in the Middle East. Neither the rebels nor the Islamic State possess an aviation. It is clear that these stations are a warning against coalition fighters. The latter, in fact, acted undisturbed until last week. A state-of-the-art Russian SAM defense will require a review of the entire aerial strategy. The United States, for example, if they decide to attack (or defend) an area close to the Russian one, they certainly cannot rely on platforms that can be an easy prey for the systems Greyhounds.
The airport is now protected by SA-22 systems, anti-aircraft platforms of different caliber, armed surveillance drones, 35 BTR-82A and five warships off the coast. Lastly, the Kremlin made the move we had made weeks ago when the "new" Syrian crisis broke out: fifteen transport and attack helicopters landed in Syria. Helicopters are the last piece before the start of raids by Russian forces against the enemies of Damascus. The Earth force also includes nine T-90 tanks and 500 soldiers (last week were 200) in addition to at least one operational specnaz group.
At this point, it is only a diplomatic question. Only an agreement could avoid a "safe" incident between Russian and American troops. The two most powerful nations in the world, engaged in the same (restricted) battle space, are on the fringes of a civil war, without having established contact to prevent any kind of conflict in combat.
It should be noted that the coordination of the Allied air campaign does not take into account the government of Damascus at all. Beyond the official Kremlin phrases ("our air force will face the Islamic State"), for Westerners Putin's goals could be others. And indeed if on the one hand it was easy to understand that Moscow would support its most important ally in the Middle East, on the other the Kremlin could use the Syrian crisis to divert attention from Ukraine and force the West to recognize Russia as a global military power.
(photo: AllSource / GeoNorth / Airbus)
