Russia's Military Operations In Syria Are Impacting U.S. And Turkish Air Operations Against The Islamic State (Update)

An S-400 "Triumf" antiaircraft missile system. © Kirill Kallinikov / Sputnik

Stratfor: Russia Forces a U.S. Shift in Northern Syria

Moscow's assertive stance since a Turkish fighter downed a Russian Su-24 in late November has started to affect Washington and Ankara's air operations over Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a Dec. 17 interview that he sees no prospect of improving ties with Turkey. Putin then dared Turkey to fly over Syrian airspace in the wake of Russian deployments of air defense assets in the country. Earlier Dec. 17, Bloomberg reported leaks from unnamed White House officials indicating that the U.S. Air Force had temporarily halted manned aerial missions inside an area the U.S. military designates "Box 4," also known as the Azaz corridor, which is west of the Euphrates River along the Turkish border. U.S. and Turkish aircraft had been supporting rebel groups combating the Islamic State in the region. The Pentagon was forced to suspend aerial operations here for all but drones when Russia deployed SA-17 surface-to-air missile systems to the area. These systems are backed up by long-range strategic surface-to-air missile systems based in Latakia province, northwest Syria. Russia also ramped up air operations near the Turkish border, interfering with U.S. and allied support for rebels in the area.

Previous Post: Russia's 'No-Fly Zone' In Syria Is Hampering U.S. Air Operations Against The Islamic State

WNU Editor: Russian air defenses are not the only ones that are impacting U.S. air operations .... apparently other countries are developing and deploying the same technologies and are forcing the Pentagon to rethink how it conducts air-missions .... Red storm rising: Pilots facing deadlier air defenses (Air Force Times)