Russia in First Ever Joint Air Patrol With Syria and It’s Along Israeli-Held Golan

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. Russian and Syrian military pilots have conducted a joint air patrol mission along the Golan Heights and the Euphrates River, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“The mission’s route ran along the Golan Heights, the southern border, the Euphrates River and over northern Syria,” the statement reads. “Russian pilots took off from the Hmeymim Air Base, while Syrians took off from the Seikal and Dumayr airfields outside Damascus,” the ministry added.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the mission involved Russia’s Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft and the A-50 early warning and control aircraft, as well as Syria’s MiG-23 and MiG-29 planes. “During the patrol mission, Syrian pilots controlled airspace and provided fighter cover, while Russian crews practiced attacks on ground targets,” the statement specified. The ministry said that pilots had practiced strikes on air targets and ground targets at a training range in central Syria.

“The two countries’ pilots developed skills for cooperation in various situations. This kind of joint missions will now take place on a regular basis,” the Russian Defense Ministry stressed.

Source: TASS

1/ #Russia #Syria @IDF @DeptofDefense @DefenceHQ

The Russian Aerospace Forces conducted the first joint air patrol with Syrian colleagues over the Golan Heights and in the southern zone. pic.twitter.com/p4KUqXuIrh

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022

2/ On the Russian side, Su-34, Su-35 and A-50 (Khmeimim airfield) were involved, and on the Syrian side, MiG-23 and MiG-29 (Damascus airfield). The Russian Aerospace Forces practiced striking at the objects of a conditional enemy, while the Syrians provided support.

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022

3/ Although, technically, this is the first time that Russian and Syrian aircraft operate in a single combat formation, nevertheless, interaction with Syrian colleagues during the active phase of the campaign was:

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022

4/ targets were distributed for fire destruction, joint strikes were carried out on certain objects.

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022

5/ Simultaneously with the news about joint training in the south-west, there is information about the build-up of the group in central Syria – Russian MiG-29s have been transferred there.

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022

6/ Although the Military Commanders of the Russian Spring emphasize that the purpose of the MiG-29 is to patrol the Palmyra-Al-Sukhneh-Deir ez-Zor-Al-Mayadeen-Al-Bu Kemal highway, in fact, the strengthening of the group is probably a reaction to the events in Hasakah…

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022

7/ and the subsequent activation of the IS "sleeper cells" in the Syrian desert. Just like that, no one will drive the MiG-29 along the routes: the convoys are escorted by the Russian army aviation.

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) January 24, 2022