Backfire.

This is coolbert:

As seen at the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter Russian Backfire bomber warplanes active over Deir ez-Zour. And as escorted by American F-18 Hornet aircraft.

"Russian heavy bombers strike Deir ez-Zour to break ISIS offensive"

 31 January.

"Six Tu-22M3 long-range Russian bombers went into action again over the eastern Syrian town of Deir ez-Zour Monday, to break the back of the fresh offensive ISIS launched last week . . . to seize parts of the key town and air field still in Syrian government hands. The Russian defense ministry reported that the 'precision strikes targeted and destroyed two ISIS command centers, weapons and ammunition depots and jihadist manpower.' Sukhoi-30SM and Sukhoi-35S fighter jets from the Khmeimim air base provided protection for the Russian bombers. The first Russian Tupelov bomber strike last week at Deir ez-Zour, an important Syrian oil center and ISIS link to Iraq, was escorted by US Hornets [F-18], also the first joint Russian-US operation of the Trump administration."

See previous blog entries the topic of which was Deir ez-Zour:

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/01/dire.html

http://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/01/deir-ezzor.html

coolbert.