MESOP TODAYS SUMMARY : Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30 – October 1 – By Genevieve Casagrande (ISW)

The following graphic depicts ISW’s assessment of Russian airstrike locations based on reports from local Syrian activist networks, Syrian state-run media, and statements by Russian and Western officials.

High-Confidence reporting. ISW places high confidence in reports corroborated both by official government statements reported through credible channels and documentation from rebel factions or activist networks on the ground in Syria deemed to be credible.Anonymous U.S. officials reported by secondary sources stated that Russian aircraft conducted strikes in Talbisah in northern Homs Province and the Ghab Plain in Idlib Province. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that airstrikes struck targets in Al Latamneh, Jisr al-Shughour, Ar Raqqa, Darat Izza, and Ma’arat al-Numan. All of these airstrikes have been corroborated through local reporting. ISW assesses with high confidence Russian aircraft conducted strikes in the following: Talbisah, Al Latamneh, Khirbet Has, the Ghab Plain, Jisr al-Shughour, Darat Izza, and two locations in Raqqa.

Local sources have attributed Russian airstrikes to multiple locations in northwestern Syria, including Ghanto, Rastan, and al-Zafarnah in northern Homs Province; Kafr Zita in northern Hama Province; and several locations in the northeastern countryside of Latakia Province. Syrian state-run media also stated that Russian airstrikes occurred in the eastern countryside of Salamiyah in Hama Province. ISW assess with low confidence Russian aircraft conducted strikes in the following: Ghanto, Rastan, Al Zafarnah, the Salamiyah countryside, and the Latakia countryside.