The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Russian intervention in Syria 81 months on | Russia reduces its operations in “Putin-Erdogan” area and desert and escalates its activity in NE Syria amid propaganda of potential Turkish incursion

At a time when Russia’s plans are proceeding with their 81st consecutive month of involvement in the Syrian crisis, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored and tracked the recent developments during the ninth 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

 

“Putin-Erdogan” area saw no airstrikes by Russian fighter jets in the past month.

 

 

Syrian desert

 

In the 81st month of Russian military operations in Syria, SOHR activists document the death of 19 ISIS members and injury of 22 others in nearly 295 Russian airstrikes on their positions in the Syrian desert, mostly killed in Al-Raqqah desert, Deir Ezzor, Homs and Aleppo-Hama-Al-Raqqah triangle.

 

 

North-east Syria

 

In the past month, Russian and Turkish forces conducted four joint patrols. All the joint patrols were conducted in Al-Hasakah countryside at Syria-Turkey border, on the 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd of June. Two patrols were conducted in Darbasiyah countryside, while the two others were conducted in Al-Qamishili countryside.

 

Moreover, areas controlled by Autonomous Administration in north-east of Syria and areas controlled by Kurdish forces in Aleppo countryside also witnessed hectic movements by Russian forces, including bringing in reinforcements, conducting sole patrols and flying aircraft on a daily basis in light of propaganda of a potential Turkish military operation in that region.

 

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.