Syrian government forces conducted the first air raid in the province of Aleppo, in an attempt to reconquer a regular army base stolen by terrorists. The attack was conducted by Syrian pilots on Russian fighters. This was announced by the Syrian Observatory (based in the United Kingdom) for Human Rights.
The raid was also supported by a land force that hired the enemy near the Kweiris air base, in the eastern part of the province of Aleppo. The attacking force was composed of Su-24 Fencer and Su-25 Frogfoot.
According to the Israelis, however, even the Russians would have entered the battle. From what is learned from the intelligence agency Debka, soldiers of the 810th Marine Brigade would have entered into action just to resume the Kweiris air base. And the Russians know their enemy well.
The base is protected by Chechen guerrillas led by Abu Omar al-Shishani, considered one of the most important commanders of the terrorist organization in the last two years. The 27enne comes from the Chechen enclave of Pankisi in Georgia, like so many others who joined ISIS from the 2012.
In support of the Russians, according to the Israelis, even Hezbollah special forces have been active in Syria for months. The offensive to recapture Kweiris is the first step in implementing the Russian operational plan to regain the Aleppo area. To complete this first phase, the Russians must protect the 5 highway, which connects Aleppo to Damascus, essential for supplies to the Syrian army.
Debka analysts comment: "The fact that Russian forces have launched their first attack shows that Putin does not expect any US cooperation in the war against Islamist terrorists. The most disturbing aspect for the United States and Israel is that Russian soldiers fought in synergy with Syrian special forces and Hezbollah. For the first time in 41 years, after the war of attrition against the IDF on the Golan, Russian troops are fighting side by side with Syrian forces. It is also the first time that a world power like Russia is willing to go into battle with a terrorist group recognized as Hezbollah. Our sources point out that the joint attack was completely at odds with the tone and content of the discussion between Putin and Netanyahu at the last summit".
Government forces have intensified air and land attacks against the Islamic State also in the area of Raqqa, capital of the jihadist group in Syria. The Russian arsenal was also used in this attack.
Comments from the Russian Ministry of Defense. "We have many experts on the ground." However, Moscow prefers not to comment on the extent of the actual military presence in Syria.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
