Authors: Joseph Holiday, Christopher Harmer

As the proficiency of Syria’s armed opposition has increased, the Assad regime has been forced to rely on more of its arsenal to combat the opposition:

• In January 2012 the regime first began to use artillery across Syria in large quantities.
• In June 2012 the regime began to consistently employ helicopter gunships.
• In August 2012 the regime began to employ jet aircraft in strafing and bombing campaigns.

However, the regime has primarily employed its aircraft in a punitive and retaliatory manner rather than a tactical role. A majority of the regime’s airstrikes have been against towns and neighborhoods where the rebels have gained control, rather than on specific rebel military targets.