Aviation Group of the Russian air force in Syria

The Aviation Group of the Russian air force in Syria is the operational aviation formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) deployed to the Syrian Arab Republic from 30 September 2015, when Russia began a bombing campaign against ISIL, al-Qaeda and other armed groups at the request of the Syrian government. The group is not a commercial brand but a state military formation; it is treated here as an institutional entity because it appears in structured knowledge bases under this name. Its main basing hub is Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia Governorate, with supporting naval and logistics facilities at Tartus. The formation was created to support the government of President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. According to the Japanese Wikipedia account of the campaign, the first wave of strikes targeted opposition groups in Latakia, Homs and Hama governorates rather than ISIL, which drew criticism from the United States. Later operations expanded to ISIL-held territory, including Raqqa, Palmyra, Deir ez-Zor and Abu Kamal, and supported Syrian government offensives such as the recapture of Aleppo in late 2016. The group operates combat aircraft including Su-24, Su-34 and other types, supported by helicopters and electronic reconnaissance assets. Its activities have been entangled in major international incidents, notably the Turkish shootdown of a Russian Su-24 in November 2015 and the reported Russian role in warning Turkey about the 2016 coup attempt. In February 2016 President Vladimir Putin announced a partial withdrawal of the main Russian force, though air operations continued. As a military entity, the Aviation Group has no commercial products, customers or market positioning. Its significance lies in its role in the Syrian conflict, its contribution to Russian power projection in the Middle East, and its place in the broader history of Russian military intervention abroad.

The Aviation Group of the Russian air force in Syria was established as part of Russia's military intervention in the Syrian civil war, which began on 30 September 2015. On that date, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would conduct airstrikes against ISIL in Syrian territory, following a request from the Syrian government. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that it would not join the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve. The first wave of strikes, according to Syria expert Fabrice Balanche, targeted opposition groups in Latakia, Homs and Hama governorates to protect the Alawite core areas supporting the Assad government, rather than ISIL. This prompted criticism from US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry. From 1–2 October, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported strikes by Su-34 fighter-bombers against ISIL training camps and ammunition and fuel depots near Raqqa. In November, the air group began targeting oil tanker trucks used for ISIL smuggling, destroying around 500 vehicles. On 11 November, joint operations with the Syrian Tiger Forces lifted the siege of Kuweires Military Airbase near Aleppo. On 24 November 2015, a Russian Su-24 was shot down by a Turkish F-16 near the Turkey-Syria border after Turkey claimed repeated airspace violations. One crew member was killed; a rescue Mi-8 helicopter was also damaged. The incident caused a severe rift between Russia and Turkey. In February 2016, Putin announced that the main part of the Russian force would withdraw, stating that objectives had been largely achieved, though airstrikes continued. In 2016, the air group supported the Syrian government's recapture of Aleppo, completed on 22 December. It also supported operations in Palmyra, which changed hands several times, and in Deir ez-Zor and Abu Kamal in 2017. The group's operations contributed to the recapture of major ISIL-held cities and to Russia's enhanced role as a co-guarantor of ceasefires in Syria.

• Russia begins airstrikes in Syria on 30 September 2015, following a request from the Syrian government.

• Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers strike ISIL targets near Raqqa on 1–2 October 2015.

• Russian air group begins targeting ISIL oil smuggling trucks in November 2015, destroying around 500 vehicles.

• Joint operation with Syrian Tiger Forces lifts the siege of Kuweires Military Airbase on 11 November 2015.

• Turkish F-16 shoots down a Russian Su-24 near the Turkey-Syria border on 24 November 2015.

• Putin announces partial withdrawal of main Russian forces from Syria in February 2016.

• Syrian government forces recapture Aleppo with Russian air support, completed on 22 December 2016.

• Syrian government forces recapture Palmyra with Russian air support in March 2017.

• Syrian government forces recapture Deir ez-Zor in November 2017, expelling ISIL from major cities.

1. 1Aviation Group of the Russian air force in Syria - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2ロシア連邦航空宇宙軍によるシリア空爆 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org