OSINT SUMMARY
Wednesday 7th October 2015, Syria’s army and allied forces backed by aerial strikes from Russian air force launched a large-scale ground operation in the western parts of the country.
The ground operation began in northern part of Hama province with intensive fire cover from Russian air force.
The operation in Hama expected to target edges of the villages of Latmeen, west of Morek, in preparation for heading towards Kafr Zeita regions believed to harbor active range of militants, including terrorists from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.
According Syrian official news agency, SANA, Russian Air Force supporting Syrian Air Force, conducted airstrikes with precision against Islamic State positions in Deir Hafer and al-Bab in the countryside of the northern province of Aleppo killing several terrorists.
The launch of ground offensive came at a time when Russia’s President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day revealed country’s Air Force involved in bombing militants targets in Syria, would support Syrian government forces fighting on the ground.
Russia began air campaigns against terrorists in Syrian on September 30 when Damascus requested Moscow for military intervention. Russia military campaigns have been criticized by US-led coalition.
