Russland i Syria - AIN

January 13, 2017

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Russian Air Power Prevails over Syria Russia has now flown more combat air sorties over Syria than the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) has flown over Syria and Iraq combined. The weight of Russian airpower has enabled the Assad regime to regain significant territory from Syrian opposition forces, including the second city of Aleppo. But the situation on the ground remains complicated, with Damascus opposing a Turkish-led offensive against Islamic State (ISIS or Daesh) that is being quietly supported by Russia. On December 22, Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Russian Aviation and Space Force (VKS) performed approximately 8,800 combat sorties for 71,000 air strikes, killed 35,000 gunmen and destroyed 1,500 vehicles and artillery pieces. Captured items included 488 tanks and armored vehicles, 475 rocket launchers and 410 mortars. Since the expedition group went in action in October 2015, it destroyed 725 terrorist training camps and 405 industrial facilities manufacturing explosives and munitions. Interestingly, VKS first deputy commander Lt. Gen. Pavel Kurachenko said that the total of combat sorties numbered more than 30,000. The difference might be explained by Kurachenko having included helicopter flights, which are often not counted by the defense ministry. Read More