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Russian Aerospace Forces combat planes sorties in Syria are increasing TASS 41510153

Defence & Security News - The conflict in Syria

Russian Aerospace Forces combat planes sorties in Syria are increasing

The number of Russian Aerospace Forces /VKS/ combat planes’ sorties from the Hmeimim airbase in Syria against facilities of the Islamic State, prohibited in Russia, is growing. Igor Konashenkov, a MoD official, told the journalists that during the 12-13 period the Russian air group has flown 88 combat sorties against 86 IS facilities.

Su-24M Aircraft from the Khmeimim airfield in Syria

So, whilst in the first week since beginning of the VKS campaign of air strikes in Syria /30 September - 7 October/ the Russian warplanes have flown 146 missions against 91 facilities and their daily intensity was 21 sorties, during the second week /6 days from 8 to 13 October/ the number /estimated, since no data was supplied by the MoD for missions during 10-11 October/ of sorties reached 356 against 257 facilities, bringing the daily intensity to 59 sorties.

Overall, from 30 September through 13 October, 502 sorties were carried out against 348 objects.
According to Konashenkov, during 30 September through 13 October the Russian warplanes have performed the following missions:

30 September-1 October /24-hour period/ - 28 combat sorties which struck 12 terrorist facilities;

1-2 October - 18 combat sorties against 12 facilities;
2-3 October - over 20 sorties against 9 facilities;
3-4 October - 20 sorties against 10 facilities;
4-5 October - 25 sorties against 9 facilities;
5-6 October - 15 sorties against 10 facilities;
6-7 October - 20 sorties against 12 facilities;
on the night of 7-8 October - 22 sorties against 27 facilities;
8-9 October - 67 sorties against 60 facilities;
9-10 October - 64 sorties against 55 facilities;
10-11 October - combat sorties against 63 facilities;
11-12 October - 55 sorties against 53 facilities;
12-13 October - 88 sorties against 86 facilities.
13-14 October - 41 sorties against 40 facilities.

Su-34 Aircraft from the Khmeimim airfield in Syria

According to Konashenkov, the Russian aviation has destroyed the bulk of the IS militants’ ammunitions and heavy military equipment in Syria, virtually paralyzing their supply channels. "Over the last twenty-four hours, /12-13 October/ the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic has substantially increased the intensity of fire against command posts and the ISIL /former name IS/ terrorist group’s concentrations of assets and stored materiel," Konashenkov noted.

"As a result, the Islamic State detachments have largely lost their ammunitions, heavy military equipment and logistic support," the general said.

A number of militants are prepared to withdraw their formations from the operations zone in Syria due to the shortage of weapons and munitions, Konashenkov stated.

"As per the intercepted radio talks between field commanders in the provinces of Hama and Homs, the militants are acutely short of small arms and grenade launcher ammunition. Some field commanders demanded that their leaders supply them with ammunition as quickly as possible or otherwise they would withdraw their troops from the operations zone," Konashenkov said.

The Defense Ministry noted that the Russian aviation has destroyed the terrorists’ logistic support and the militants "desperately attempt to bring over to the line of contact" with the Syrian army the ammunition, weapons, fuel and other materiel from the Raqqah province controlled by the IS.

The IS terrorists in Syria have set in motion their entire "logistic network" trying to deliver new equipment and ammunition, instead of those destroyed by the Russian fighters and bombers, to the combat site, Konashenkov reported.

"Our UAVs monitor those movements of the terrorists, spotting their transshipment and support centers on the plains and in mountainous areas which they subsequently strike," he said.

Russia started the operation against the terrorists in Syria on 30 September at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s request. The Russian VKS aviation group comprises more than 50 planes and helicopters, including Su-34 multirole bombers, Su-30SM multirole fighters plus in-depth upgraded Su-24M bombers and Su-25SM attack aircraft. Besides, on 7 October the Russian Navy struck against militants’ facilities in Syria with 26 Kalibr long range cruise missiles launched from the Caspian Sea. Russia does not plan ground operations on the Syrian territory.