Key Points
- Russian aircraft began combat operations against various Syrian rebel groups on 30 September
- The US and Russia have yet to announce a formal mechanism for deconflicting their operations in Syrian airspace
Russia launched its first combat operation outside the former Soviet Union since the end of the Cold War on 30 September, when it began bombing in Syria on 30 September.
Russia was immediately criticised for targeting rebel groups other than the Islamic State (also known as ISIL), some of which are supported by the United States and its regional allies.
"There is incongruency between what President [Vladimir] Putin is saying and what his forces are doing," Lieutenant General Robert Otto, the US Air Force's deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), said on 1 October.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov shrugged off the criticism during a press conference later that day, saying: "We always were saying that we are going to fight ISIL and other terrorist groups. This is the same position as the Americans are taking. Representatives of coalition command have always been saying that their targets are ISIL, [Jabhat] al-Nusrah and other terrorist groups. This is basically our position as well."
He did, however, say that Russia does not consider the Free Syrian Army, which is now a generic term for more moderate rebel groups, to be a terrorist group and that it should be part of the political process.
Satellite imagery has confirmed Russia's deployment of four Su-30SM, 12 Su-24 and 12 Su-25 jets, as well as around 20 helicopters to an air base in Syria's coastal Latakia province. Russia has confirmed that it has also deployed Su-34 jets, the Russian Air Force's most modern ground attack platforms, by releasing footage of one landing at the Syrian air base.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said on 1 October that the US and Russian defence officials had spoken via teleconference to "discuss mechanisms for the conduct of safe air operations over Syria".
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