According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by rebels near the village of Kafr Nabouda, north of Hama. A video has since been released which appears to show the incident, and raised speculation it was a Russian helicopter.
The Syrian military launched an offensive yesterday north of Hama, trying to recover territory held by assorted al-Qaeda-linked rebels in the area around Hama and Idlib. Helicopters were active in the offensive, and while the Mi-24 is an old Soviet model helicopter gunship, it is active in both the Syrian and Russian militaries.
It’s unclear, then, if the downed helicopter was Russian or Syrian. Either way, the rebel factions in northern Hama, many of them formerly recipients of US aid, are awash in anti-aircraft weapons, which makes the use of these helicopters a dangerous proposition.
Mi-24 helicopters are designed as gunships, and were commonly used in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, where they similarly faced US-provided anti-aircraft missiles, which led to shifts in tactics with the helicopters, firing from a larger distance to try to avoid being in the line of fire.
The Russians understand that losses on both sides are an inevitable consequence of warfare. America's desire for zero losses and zero casualties means the long effort to "contain" ISIS has been hugely expensive and completely ineffective. Before you start a war, you have to decide you are willing to accept the losses that will occur in order to win (as opposed to "contain"', "degrade","prevail" etc.).
Helicopters and ground attack aircraft are the only really effective ways to deal with dispersed targets like those presented by ISIS. These weapons systems are at risk when they are most effective. Bombing from 25,000 ft is basically risk free but also nearly useless.
The war mongers can only conduct this war as long as there are zero casualties because they have no support for this adventure among the people.
"Awashed in Anti-Aircraft Weapons" actually sounds like editorializing to me, this is why barrel bombs have been such a problem there, little defense to shoot them down.
Another Iraq-style "cakewalk" by the looks of things! Did anybody seriously expect that everybody was going to be so overawed by Putin's rickety military that they would just throw up their hands and surrender?
Bit of a surprise those cruise missiles from the Caspian sea. Not too shabby for a rickety washed up military using obsolete technology. Makes you wonder what else Russia might have in the back pocket.