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Russia repels missile attack by militants on its main airbase in Syria’s Latakia

Monday, 20 May 2019 1:09 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 20 May 2019 1:29 PM ]

This file picture shows Russian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jets at the Russia-run Hmeimim airbase in Syria's western coastal province of Latakia. (Photo by AFP)

The Russian Defense Ministry says its surface-to-air missile systems have managed to foil an attack by militants from the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, on its main air base in Syria's western coastal province of Latakia.

The ministry announced in a statement on Monday that militants positioned in the de-escalation zone of Syria's northwestern province of Idlib had fired six missiles at the strategic Hmeimim airbase at around 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) the previous day.

PressTV-Syrian air defenses foil drones, rockets fired at key base

Syria says its air defenses in the Hmeimim air base have thwarted projectiles and drones fired by terrorist groups.

The statement added that Russian air defense systems destroyed all the projectiles before they could strike the site.

The Russian Defense Ministry further noted that multiple launch pads from where Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terrorists had fired the missiles at the airbase, were detected and destroyed.

The development came only two days after Syrian air defense systems thwarted a drone and missile attack on Hmeimim airbase.

Syria’s state-run television network reported at the time that foreign-sponsored militants positioned in Qardahah village, which overlooks the coastal town of Latakia, as well as Jablah district had fired the projectiles at the base.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued Arab country.

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At least six civilians have been killed and nearly a dozen others injured when Takfiri terrorists lobbed rockets into a refugee camp in northern Syria.

The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other foreign-backed terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russian air cover.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

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Syria Takfiri militants Russia Middle East Idlib Latakia Takfiri terrorist groups Syria crisis missile system Hmeimim Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Fateh al-Sham