The Syrian Army continues to be in full retreat southwards toward Palmyra. Only sporadic pockets of resistance have been encountered by NATO ground forces and the Airfield at Tabqa was taken with barely a shot fired last week.
Rather than being deterred by the US strike on an oil production facility last week, President Assad has decided to borrow a play from Iraq's playbook in the first Gulf War. Syrian troops are now sabotaging and setting fire to oil drilling and pumping facilities in the Deir al-Zour Oilfield as they retreat. These oil reserves will be critical to rebuilding northern Syria in the wake of the conflict and it appears that president Assad plans to stoke further civil war and unrest in the North by unleashing this scorched-earth policy on the verge of his defeat.
Coalition ground forces are racing south towards a large Forward Operating Base south of Tabqa that Syria is using as a hub for dispatching demolition crews to sabotage area oil wells.
MISSION
VFA-41 will be targeting the Forward Operating Base [WP3] which lies approximately 28 miles south of, now allied controlled, Tabqa air base. It is imperative for the future of Syria that Assad's troops be prevented from destroying northern Syria's oil production industry.
The FOB is defended by several BMP type vehicles, light armor as well as a handful of T-72/T-90 tanks. Command wants these defenders taken out ASAP to prevent advancing friendly forces from coming under fire as they approach from the NW.
After the defenses are suppressed, there are two large parking areas near the FOB command center that contain multiple rows of well-dispersed trucks that the Syrians are using to send teams out into the surrounding area to set fire to the oilfield. Destroying both truck parks will buy some time for the allies to capture the FOB before any further damage is done.
Any structures, watch-towers, barracks and support vehicles at the FOB may also be targeted once the armored defenses and truck parks are destroyed.
THREATS
Two mobile SA-8s have been active in the vicinity of the FOB in past several days. Satellite imagery has not been able to pinpoint their location, but they are still believed to be in the area.
Syrian fighters are now not straying very far from Palmyra, and Allied CAP has been extended southwards closer to the front lines. If any Syrian fighters are encountered, USAF F-15s should be on station to intercept them. Mig-25's out of Palmyra did attempt to chase down one USN flight returning to the George Washington several days ago, but the egressing USN fighters evaded north and the Foxbats retreated upon being spiked by allied CAP operating in the area.
ROE
WEAPONS FREE- All Syrian ground and air targets may be engaged upon contact.
MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 28 August, 2022
TIME: 17:00
SUNRISE: 06:09
SUNSET: 19:205
TASK: Forward Operating Base suppression
WX: 010@05 kt / Scattered 8,000 Scattered 24,000 / T31 / 30.13
FLIGHT DURATION: 300 nm
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 4: 4 x F-14b
CARRIER:
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) / BRC 250° / Freq 127.5 [6] / TCN 73X "GWH" / ICLS: 13
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-3D / MAGIC / Freq 266.000 [4]
Mission Tanker / KC-130 / ARCOO / Freq: 253.00 [9]/ TCN 56Y
Recovery Tanker / S-3B / SHELL / Freq 353.00 [10] / TCN:66Y
DIVERT
Aleppo International AP [WP6]
Rwy: 9/27
VOR: N/A
ATC: 250.75
BULLSEYE: Aleppo Airport [WP6]
DD-31 Route Overview
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DD-31 Target Area Detail
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Target Image 1
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Target Image 2
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DD-31 Mission Datacard
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