What Joint Russian-Syrian Air Patrols Might Mean For Foreign Air Forces Over Syria

In late January, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian and Syrian warplanes had conducted joint patrols along the Golan Heights and the Euphrates River.

"The mission route included the Golan Heights, the southern border of Syria, the Euphrates River and northern Syria," the statement said. "The Russian pilots took off from Khmeimim Air Base, while the Syrians took off from the Sayqal and Al-Dumayur bases near Damascus."

It also disclosed that Russian Su-34 Fullback, Su-35 Flanker, and A-50 early warning and control aircraft were accompanied by Syrian MiG-23 Flogger and MiG-29