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Russia Airstrikes Hit US Backed Groups In Syria, According To Rebel Fighters

By Chris Lake
Published on: 04:35 PST, Sep 30, 2015

The first targets in Syria have reportedly been hit by Russian airstrikes with various rebel groups claiming that instead of targeting ISIS positions, the Russian airstrikes are hitting US backed rebels. Russia’s Federation Council approved the use of force today, and unnamed sources at the White House have told media that they were given one hour’s notice of the commencement of Russian airstrikes, according to the International Business Times.

A short time after the first Russian airstrikes were reported, rebel groups from non-ISIS areas began reporting battle damage and casualties from airstrikes and posting the images and videos online. Particularly hard hit is the rebel area of Homs, which contains strongholds of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Strikes have been reported in al-Lataminah, Zaafrana and Talbisah, which are held by the FSA, Jahbat Al-Nusra, and Jayish al-Fath, all groups which are currently fighting to topple the Assad regime and regularly co-operate to combat ISIS. Jaysh al-Fath is, in fact, “The Army of Conquest,” the collective name for Islamist groups who have combined to fight ISIS. It is this alliance of convenience against ISIS that has attracted US backing for many of these rebel cadres.

Social media has been flooded with allegations of Russian airstrikes hitting non-ISIS positions. Activists in Homs and Hama have uploaded multiple videos claiming to show the immediate aftermath of Russian airstrikes, while other footage from the FSA stronghold in Talbiseh shows the evacuation of wounded from bomb damaged buildings.

In al-Lataminah, Russian airstrikes were also alleged, with video of the aftermath being posted on Youtube.

According to some outlets, Russia has also indicated the future use of ground troops, but it is believed that these reports stem from an erroneous interpretation of an article posted on Russian site Kyivpost. According to Business Insider Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergey Ivanov has ruled out the use of ground troops, which quote has been corroborated by multiple sources.

This stream of reports of Russian airstrikes doesn’t have everyone convinced. Analysts have pointed out that it is impossible to determine whether the warplanes are actually being flown by Russian pilots on the strength of the evidence provided by rebel groups. It should be remembered that the Syrian air force includes various models of Sukhoi fighter and fighter/bomber – the same base design as those used in the alleged Russian airstrikes. It is difficult to be certain that the airstrikes reported are actually Russian airstrikes as both air forces use planes that can look very much the same at a distance.

Russian Airstrikes
Su-25 Frogfoot warplanes [Getty Images/Handout]
An analyst from Bellingcat told The Independent that it was even possible that Syrian pilots might be flying warplanes from Russia. Russia has delivered numerous warplanes and other weaponry to Syria in recent months, and satellite images confirm that SU-24 and 25 warplanes, the types tentatively identified by Hama media and rebel groups, made up part of this delivery. It is also possible that, instead of Russian airstrikes, Russian involvement or the promise of it may have allowed the Assad regime to free up more resources to deal with anti-regime forces, and what is being reported might be Syrian airstrikes.

Whatever the case may be, this escalation in involvement has been relatively sudden, and to all appearances, unilateral. This and the difficulty of getting information on the ground means that the beginning of Russian airstrikes can only lead to a significant increase in tension between all players in the region.

[Picture via Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla]

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