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Original posted by military-informant.com; translated from Russian by J.Hawk

Russian forces stormed rebel positions in Sakhl al-Gab, between Latakia and Idlib in northern Syria.

The assault involved Russian forces in up to battalion strength. The rebel-held heights were subjected to heavy artillery bombardment using howitzers and rocket artillery. Russian forces also had air cover in the form of Su-25M attack aircraft.

The ground operation involved Russian Naval Infantry supported by T-90 MBTs and BTR-80 [BTR-82?] APCs.

Right now the captured positions are held by Russian and Syrian forces.



Syria’s pro-government journalists are confirming that Russian ground troops conducted operations near Aleppo.

J.Hawk’s Comment: No way to tell yet whether the reports are true, but it is more likely than not that Russian ground units are participating in the fighting. Certainly the pictures of T-90 MBTs on flatbed trailers, which they would use in the event of lengthy marches rather than in security operations in direct vicinity of Khmeimim airbase, suggest the Russian ground component is no longer confined to the environs of Russian naval and air facilities in Syria. This development would be consistent with preparations reported in the weekly Russia Military Map status updates and the fact that the Syrian army is averse to conducting shock action assaults which reduces the effects of the Russian air/artillery bombardment. One or a few reinforced battalion battlegroups could operate as the “extraordinary force” on selected sectors of the front and have an effect on the overall situation out of all proportion to their numbers (and in fact we have seen something similar during the winter 2014/15 fighting on the Donbass), whereas the Syrian army, the “ordinary force”, would hold territory, conduct defensive operations, and create conditions suitable for the employment of Russian shock units.

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