In accordance to the task assigned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces concerning enhancing combat operations of the aviation in the Syrian Arab Republic, crews of Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 long-range aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out strikes with air-based cruise missiles at the ISIS terrorist objects within the air operation.
Today, from 5.00 through 5.30 a.m. (MSK), twelve Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carried out strikes at the ISIS terrorist facilities in Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.
From 9.00 through 9.40, Tu-160 and Tu-95MS launched 34 air-based cruise missiles at terrorist objects located in Aleppo and Idlib.
All strikes are performed against the targets, which had been registered in advance.
In total, in the course of the first day of the air operation, 127 combat sorties engaging 206 terrorist facilities have been planned. By now, the Russian aviation have performed 82 combat sorties and engaged 140 objects of illegal armed groups. The operation is being continued. Subsequent massive airstrikes will be carried out in accordance to the air operation plan.
The number of combat sorties carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces is increased in two times. That allows performing crushing and pinpoint strikes against the ISIS militants all over the territory of Syria.
In total, in the course of the first day of the air operation, 127 combat sorties engaging 206 terrorist facilities have been planned. By now, the Russian aviation have performed 82 combat sorties and engaged 140 objects of illegal armed groups. The operation is being continued. Subsequent massive airstrikes will be carried out in accordance to the air operation plan.
Chief of the General of the Russian Armed Forces General of the Army Valery Gerasimov reported about operations held by the Russian aviation in details.
Missions carried out by the Russian aviation provided opportunity to the Syrian Armed Forces to take the all-front offensive in Aleppo, Latakia, Idlib, Homs and Damascus provinces, and to have vast territories liberated from terrorists.
In the northern Aleppo, the Syrian Armed Forces have liberated approximately 40 inhabited areas. Governmental forces unblocked the Kwaires airbase. At present, the forces continue extending safety zone around the airbase.
Offensive operation at Idlib is being successfully developed; the Syrian Armed Forces are carrying out active offensive in 20-30 kilometers far from the city.
Terrorists have been destroyed in 12 inhabited areas in the coastal province of Latakia. Attack units of governmental forces and people’s militia are fiercely fighting for the control over the town of Salma. They have been successful in liberated a number of tactically important heights and inhabited areas on Kobani and Gmam line. Despite the persistent resistance of illegal armed groupings, Syrian units are continuing their offensive.
As a result of an offensive by governmental forces and militia units the inhabited area of Hadat was taken from the terrorists.
A Syrian offensive in the direction of Palmyra is continued. Since the beginning of the active phase of the offensive assault troops have dug 4 kilometers into terrorist occupied territory, blocked terrorists in the inhabited area of Maksam and are currently fighting for the control of the commanding eminence near the entrance to the city.
The liberation of terrorist controlled areas of Jaubar and Eastern Guta is continued, with fierce city combat being conducted in the vicinity of DAMASCUS.
For the first time in 4 years of war the Syrian Army has liberated 80 inhabited areas, assuming control over a territory of over 500 square kilometers.
In order to carry out the orders to increase the number of airstrikes against the Islamic State and other extremist organizations the General Staff has devised an Air Operation Plan.
Besides the increase in the number of combat aviation sorties from the Hmeymim airbase, the Plan includes sending 25 long-range aviation aircraft, 8 perspective SU-34 bombers and 4 SU-27SM fighters from Russia to conduct airstrikes in Syria.
Space reconnaissance means of the Middle Eastern region are being reinforced to increase the efficiency of detecting enemy facilities and the accuracy of determining target coordinates.
Ten spacecraft have been assigned to conduct imaginary and radar reconnaissance, including civilian purpose spacecraft.
The orbits of a number of satellites have been retargeted and corrected to allow them to monitor Syrian territory with required periodicity.
A future reinforcement of the orbital group with operational reserve spacecraft is planned.
Today as a result of the first massive airstrike 14 terrorist facilities of special importance were destroyed with 34 cruise missiles.
Those were control centres of the illegal armed groupings, which coordinated Islamic State troops in Idlib and Aleppo provinces; large depots of ammunition and other supplies located in protected shelters in the North West of Syria; terrorist training camps, in which reinforcements for terrorist units were trained, including suicide bombers; three large factories, which manufactured explosives, suicide vests and unguided rockets.
The aviation group in Hmeymim has carried out 65 combat sorties today. As a result of the Airstrikes 6 command centres, 8 ammunition depots, 12 training camps, 4 rockets and mines factories and 6 fuel depots belonging to terrorist groups have been destroyed.
SU-34 aircraft have destroyed two columns of fuel bowsers and about 50 vehicles. As a result, taking into consideration previous airstrikes aimed at oil supplies transports (410 fuellers in total) and several infrastructure elements, the illegal fuel export capabilities of the terrorists have been significantly cut.
The control over the air operation is conducted from the National Centre on State Defence Control of the Russian Federation through Long Range Aviation and Syrian Aviation Group Command communication centres.
The Russian Defence Ministry had informed the US Air Force Command and other coalition countries’ Commands about the conduct of airstrikes in advance.
“The conduct of airstrikes at terrorist facilities is continued according to the approved plan. All the assigned missions will be carried out”, stated Chief of the Russian General Staff.
