U.S., Russian Aircraft Come Within Visual Range Over Syria

Two Russian and two U.S. aircraft came within visual range of each other -- separated by just 10 to 20 miles – over Syria on Saturday, CNN reported today.

“Both sets of aircraft moved away and there was no incident,” said U.S.-led coalition spokesman Col. Steve Warren. “But it is dangerous… It’s dangerous if two sets of aircraft come into the same piece of airspace without clearly laid out protocol for safety of all involved.” (CNN, 14 October)

So far, senior Pentagon officials have conducted two rounds of talks with the Russians to avoid accidents in air in Syria, but no agreement has yet been reached. They will hold a third round of talks today, the Pentagon said.

UPDATE: The U.S. and Russian militaries are finalizing a memorandum of understanding that sets out basic air safety procedures in the skies above Syria, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Photo credit: Russian aircraft (Norwegian Armed Forces/CNN)

Russia Unleashes First Wave of Airstrikes in Syria

Russian warplanes have conducted their first airstrikes in Syria, Russia’s defense ministry announced, saying that the fighter jets carried out 20 flights against ISIL positions.

“Today, Russia aerospace force jets delivered pinpoint strikes on eight Islamic State terror group targets in Syria. In total, 20 flights were made,” said Igor Konashenkov, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson. (AFP/AP, 30 September)

The United States disputed Moscow’s claims of hitting ISIL targets. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the strikes were in areas where there were no ISIL forces.

ISW reported that according to local sources, Russian airstrikes were conducted in northern Homs and the provinces of Hama and Latakia. Local militia forces and hardliners operate in these areas, but the nearest positions held by ISIL are over 55 km (34 miles) from the areas targeted by the Russians.

File photo (above): Russian Su-30MKI fighter jet (AP)

Map (bottom): Russian airstrikes in Syria: 30 September 2015 (ISW)

Russia Expands Military Presence in Syria

Beyond Latakia Airfield

Russian forces are expanding their military presence in Syria beyond Latakia airfield, south of the Mediterranean port, where Moscow has deployed more than two dozen combat aircraft. HIS Jane’s reported today on additional, previously undisclosed, Russian military buildup, including a weapons depot and a military facility north and west of Latakia. The satellite images from mid-September suggest that Russia is preparing to place troops in both places, according to Robert Munks, editor of HIS Jane’s Intelligence. 

The images, acquired by Jane’s from a commercial satellite division of Airbus Group, show construction of new buildings, the presence of new tents typically used by Russian military units and significant development of the grounds, Munks said. (HIS Jane’s, 22 September)

President Putin’s move in Syria is the first military intervention by Russia or Soviet Union outside the former Soviet zone in more than 30 years.

File photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Metzel Mikhail/Zuma Press/The Wall Street Journal)

Russia’s Military Buildup in Syria

Satellite image shows four Russian Su-30SM Flankers parked in the open at the airport in Syria’s Mediterranean port of Latakia, the Aviationist reported on Sunday. The Flanker is a 4+ generation two-engine, two seat supermaneuverable multi-role aircraft. Deployment of Su-30s follow reports that Russia has deployed Su-25 Frogfoot and Su-24 Fencer fighter jets to Syria.

The airport at Latakia is also the scene of ongoing construction of a major Russian base in the country, including reinforcing the runways, building helicopter pads, installing mobile housing units for hundreds of personnel, and putting up several buildings including an air traffic control tower.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Russia’s military buildup in Syria includes surface-to-air missiles as well as combat aircraft with air-to-air capability, questioning Russia’s insistence that the buildup is for fighting the Islamic State, which does not have an air force. Instead, it appears the base at the Alawite country could be a permanent Russian military outpost in the Middle East, something Russia has always wanted and now the chaos in Syria is allowing it to establish the military base at a strategic location.

Top photo: Sattelite image showing four Su-30SMs at Latakia airport (GeoNorth/The Aviationist)
Bottom photo: Inflight Su-30SM

U.S. Weighing Russian Offer for Mil-to-Mil Contact on Syria – Kerry

Secretary of State John Kerry said today the U.S. is weighing an offer from Russia to have military-to-military regular contacts and meetings on the situation in Syria. Russia is building up its military presence in the country to support Assad regime’s military operations against ISIL and the opposition groups.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed the mil-to-mil arrangement in a phone call on Tuesday. Kerry said he favored the idea, which enables the U.S. to have a clear picture of what Russia’s intentions are in Syria following its recent military buildup there. (AP, 16 September)

Photo: Secretary of State John Kerry during a meeting at the White House; 15 September 2015 (Andrew Harnik/AP)