Direct proof of use
The Tu-22M is documented in the 2011 Syrian Civil War as a Russian Aerospace Forces long-range strike aircraft. In August 2016, The Guardian reported that Russian state media, citing the defense ministry, said Su-34 and Tu-22M3 warplanes had taken off from Hamadan air base in Iran to strike targets in Syria.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported a separate November 15, 2017 Russian Defense Ministry statement that six Tu-22M3 bombers flew from bases in Russia, crossed Iran and Iraq, and hit Islamic State targets near Albu Kamal in Deir ez-Zor Province. RAND's study of the Russian air campaign also places Mozdok-based Tu-22M3 bombers in the Deir ez-Zor campaign, where it describes six aircraft dropping unguided bombs on stationary Islamic State targets.
Sources: Guardian Hamadan Airbase Syria, RFE/RL Russia-Based Bombers Syria, RAND Russian Air Campaign Syria
Dated milestones
Russia's open air intervention in Syria began in 2015, but the Tu-22M3 appears in the cited record as an intertheater bomber used when Russia wanted heavy long-range strike capacity rather than a permanently Syrian-based tactical aircraft.
On August 16, 2016, Tu-22M3 aircraft were reported using Iran's Hamadan air base for Syria strikes. The Guardian described the episode as the first public use of an Iranian air base by Russian aircraft in the Syria campaign and reported target areas including Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, and Idlib through Russian state reporting.
By late 2017, the aircraft was documented in the Deir ez-Zor and Albu Kamal fighting against Islamic State. RAND ties the use of six Mozdok-based Tu-22M3 bombers to the final Deir ez-Zor operation, and RFE/RL reports the November 15, 2017 Albu Kamal strike mission from Russian bases.
Sources: Guardian Hamadan Airbase Syria, RAND Russian Air Campaign Syria, RFE/RL Russia-Based Bombers Syria
Role in the conflict
The supported side was the Syrian government and allies, with Russia operating the aircraft. The sources support a long-range strike and interdiction role: Tu-22M3 bombers were used from outside Syria to attack Islamic State or other militant targets, while Russian tactical aircraft and helicopters handled much of the closer air-support work from Syrian bases.
RAND's campaign analysis describes long-range strike aircraft as Russia's primary air-support source for entrenched Syrian Arab Army forces in Deir ez-Zor for much of the campaign, because other Russian strike aircraft at Hmeimim were largely allocated elsewhere. The same study says the later Deir ez-Zor operation combined long-range bomber sorties, sea-launched cruise missiles, forward-based aircraft, and other Russian air activity rather than attributing the campaign outcome to Tu-22M3 bombers alone.
Sources: RAND Russian Air Campaign Syria, Guardian Hamadan Airbase Syria, RFE/RL Russia-Based Bombers Syria
