Russian intervention in Syria 80 months on | Russia continues to run joint patrols with Turkey in north-east Syria and reduce its airstrikes on Syrian desert

At a time when Russia’s plans are proceeding with their 80th consecutive month of involvement in the Syrian crisis, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored and tracked the recent developments during the eighth month of the seventh year of the Russian intervention in Syria. This month has experienced a decline in Russian activities and military operations in light of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. These key developments can be summarized regionally as follows:

 

North-west Syria

 

In “Putin-Erdogan” area, Russian fighter jets executed 16 airstrikes on several areas in the de-escalation zone, including six airstrikes carried out with air-to-air missiles, leaving several people injured.

 

Here are further details of Russian airstrikes monitored by SOHR activists:

 

• May 7: Russian fighter jets fired six air-to-air missiles on Maarat Misrin and Al-Bara in Idlib countryside.

 

• May 12: Russian fighter jets executed two airstrikes on Bayannin forest in southern Idlib countryside.

 

• May 13: Russian fighter jets carried out four airstrikes in the vicinity of the 111th regiment in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• May 14: Four Russian airstrikes hit the vicinity of the villages of Mantaf, Kafr Lata and Ma’arzaf in Idlib countryside, injuring a civilian.

 

 

North-east Syria

 

In the past month, Russian and Turkish forces conducted four joint patrols. Three joint patrols toured border villages with Turkey in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside in Aleppo province, on the 9th, 16th and 23rd of May, while the fourth patrol was conducted in Darbasiyah countryside, near Turkish border in Al-Hasakah countryside on May 19.

 

On the other hand, areas controlled by Turkish forces and Ankara-backed factions of the “National Army” experienced several airstrikes by Russian fighter jets using air-to-air missiles in late May.

 

 

Syrian desert

 

In the 80th month of Russian military operations in Syria, SOHR activists document the death of eight ISIS members and injury of 13 others in nearly 370 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 the months passes, 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 regain 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 have spilt the blood of Syrians despite claiming to be a “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 eleventh year.