FILE PHOTO: Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft before departing for its permanent base in Russia from Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. © Vadim Grishankin / Sputnik
On July 9, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) carried out a series of airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib in what appears to be a response to recent ceasefire violations.
Several airstrikes targeted hills surrounding the town of Kabani in the northern countryside of Lattakia. The town is an infamous stronghold of al-Qaeda factions, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The terrorist group is the de-facto ruler of Grater Idlib.
#عاجل : الطيران الحربي الروسي يشن ضربات جوية عنيفة على محاور الكبانة بريف اللاذقية الشمالي وسط تحليق لطيران الاستطلاع الروسي في سماء المنطقة#الإعلامي_باسل_الحموي
للمتابعة تلغرام 👇 https://t.co/osoANzk3yM pic.twitter.com/dmKdEPQxKE— باسل الحموي (@TmNcMDmxFGerFf5) July 9, 2021
عاجل موقع Now Lebanon 🇱🇧 بالصورة مباشر
غارة لطيران الحربي الروسي تستهدف محاور الكبينة بريف اللاذقية الشمالي . pic.twitter.com/BwNVFdVq3R— Now Lebanon 🇱🇧 (@NowLebanon2) July 9, 2021
An unspecified target in the outskirts of the town of Josef in the southeastern Idlib countryside was also targeted by Russian warplanes. HTS maintains a strong presence in this part of Greater Idlib.
غارة جوية روسية تستهدف حرش بلدة جوزف في ريف ادلب الجنوبي . pic.twitter.com/sHU6hrjDHD
— ميلاد فضل (@freeehsem) July 9, 2021
The results of the Russian airstrikes are yet to be revealed. HTS and its allies don’t acknowledge their losses in most cases.
The airstrikes were likely a response to recent ceasefire violations by HTS. Over the last 48 hours, the terrorist group shelled several government-held towns and villages in Greater Idlib with improvised rockets and artillery.
Turkey, which is responsible for implementing the ceasefire agreed upon on March 5 of last year, is doing nothing whatsoever to hold HTS and its allies accountable. In fact, some of the recent ceasefire violations were carried out with weapons supplied by Ankara.
