A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
On May 11, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out at least two airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib where several terrorist groups are present and active.
The Russian airstrikes targeted militants’ positions in the outskirts of the town of Benin in the southern countryside of Idlib.
-
- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
-
- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
The airstrikes were likely a response to recent violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib. On May 10, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria said that a soldier of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) was killed as a result of an indirect fire attack that originated from the region. The attack was a blatant violation of the ceasefire, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than two years ago.
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, and the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberations were behind most recent ceasefire violations.
On May 6, Turkish-backed militants targeted a battle tank of the SAA near the town of Hantoteen in the southern Idlib countryside with an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). The SAA responded to the violation on May 8 by targeting a vehicle that was carrying militants to the frontline in the al-Ghab Plains in the northwestern countryside of Hama with an ATGM. Six militants were killed and four others were wounded in the attack.
The situation in Greater Idlib remains far from being stable. However, the region will not likely experience a large-scale military confrontation between the SAA and the militants any time soon.
- Unprecedented Israeli Attack Targets Syrian Military Posts In Al-Quneitra (Videos)
- Syria’s Assad Meets Khamenei On Surprise Visit To Iran
