Russian intervention in Syria 71 months on | Nearly 100 airstrikes on “de-escalation zone”…seven patrols with the Turks in NE Syria
At a time when Russia’s plans are proceeding with their 71st consecutive month of involvement in the Syrian crisis, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored and tracked the recent developments during the tenth month of the sixth year of the Russian intervention in Syria. These key developments can be summarized regionally as follows:
North-east Syria
In August 2021, Russian and Turkish forces conducted seven patrols, four of which were in Ain al-Arab countryside (Kobani) in Aleppo province on August 2, 9, 15 and 23. These four patrols set off from Ashma village in the west of Ain al-Arab and toured the villages and towns of Jarqili Fuqani, Qarran, Dikmidash, Kharkhouri, Boban, Seftek, Joul Bek and Zour Maghar village which is opposite Jarabulus city which is under the control of Turkish forces and their proxies on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river, and it is the furthest village in Ain al-Arab countryside.
While the three other patrols toured al-Hasakah countryside on August 12, 19, and 26. Two of these patrols set off from Sherik village in the west of al-Darbasiyyah and toured the villages in al-Darbasiyyah and Amuda countryside, including Dalil, Qunaitarah, Qarmaniyah, Tel Kadish, Ghanamiyah, Karbatli, Tel Teri, Jadidah, Tel Karmah, Jaradi, Khasiki, Madourah, Khanki, Kharazah, Bahira and Jawhariyah.
While one patrol toured villages in al-Qamishli countryside, including Khaznah, Mahrikan, Bab Senal, Deir Ghosn, Abu Bakr, Um Rumman, Halaq, Ghassaniyyah, Fedaa, Amiryah, Jaberiyah and Nabaa al-Nabi.
North-west Syria
In the past month, Russian fighter jets escalated their airstrikes considerably, targeting various positions in the “de-escalation zone”, as over 95 airstrikes were executed on the region in 14 days, on July 30, August 5, 9, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28 and 29.
These airstrikes hit positions in Idlib, Hama and Latakia countryside, including Mashoun, Kansafra, Mar’yan, al-Mawzarah, al-Fterah, Majdaliyah, Ain Larouz, al-Bara town and its surrounding areas in the southern countryside of Idlib, Sheikh Bahr in the northern countryside of Idlib, the surrounding areas of Ain Shaib to the west of Idlib city, al-Jabal al-Wastani area in the western countryside of Idlib, Duwayr al-Akrad, Hemaymat in the north-western countryside of Hama and Kabana in Jabal al-Akrad in the northern countryside of Latakia.
Syrian desert
In the 71st month of military operations in Syria, SOHR activists document the death of nine ISIS members and injury of 20 others in more than 550 Russian airstrikes on their positions in the Syrian desert, mostly killed in al-Raqqah desert, Deir Ezzor, Homs and Aleppo-Hama-al-Raqqah triangle.
As months pass, the Syrians suffer the scourge of the Russian intervention, which seems to resemble a kind of revenge and retaliation against Syrians for protesting against the regime that committed the worst violations against its own people. At a time when the map of alliances and power balances is changing, Russia has become the ultimate winner, succeeding in helping the Syrian regime regaining control over about two-thirds of the country after losing control of most of its territory. Moscow used the pretext of “the war on terror” to commit massacres against civilians, and sponsored and struck agreements which soon after abandoned. Moscow and its war machine spilt in the blood of Syrians despite claiming to be “political mediator” or “broker” that can deal with all parties to the conflict.
With all recent changes in the balance of powers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renews its appeals to the international community to put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression against the Syrians, and to find a political solution to end the Syrian crisis that completed its tenth year.