Syrian Government Forces Opened Fire While Russian Aircraft Was Landing In Khmeimim

Illustrative image.

The forces of Syria’s interim government opened fire from anti-aircraft guns while a Russian military cargo aircraft was landing in Khmeimim Air Base on the Syrian coast over the night of April 27 and 28.

The source of fire was reportedly the Naval Academy, just two kilometers to the southwest of the air base, according to Syrian activists, who said on social networks that government forces deployed there, including foreign fighters, were attempting to target the aircraft.

It is possible, however, that the anti-aircraft fire was directed at a drone flying by. Khmeimim and another Russian base located within Tartus port, further south along the coast, have been repelling drone attacks for the past week.

Attempts to target the Russian bases on the coast with drones began shortly after the fall of the Assad regime last December.

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned at the time that the United States and British intelligence services were preparing “terrorist acts” against Russian bases in Syria, including the use of drones.

Last March, the rate of attacks increased following a brutal government crackdown on the coast that claimed the lives of more than 1,600 civilians, mostly members of the Alawite religious group that makes up the majority of the region’s population. Some 10,000 civilians fled to Khmeimim during the killings and to this day they are refusing to leave.

The Russian military expanded its controle around Khmeimim and resumed helicopter patrols over the coast in response to the threat. However, the situation worsened last week with interceptions being reported on a near-daily basis.

So far, all the attacks have been rebelled. No group has yet claimed responsibility, which left the door open for many speculations.

While Russia and the Syrian government maintain high levels of communications, an agreement on the future of Russian bases on the country’s coast is yet to be reached.

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