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On November 10, an official of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) claimed that HTS’ vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) hit a convoy of the Russian military in Jableh city south of Lattakia.
According to the HTS-linked news agency Iba’a the, Russian convoy was targeted in Bustan al-Basha village north of Jableh city where the Russian Khmeimim airbase is located. Iba’a claimed that several Russian and Syrian soldiers were killed or injured in the supposed attack.
Earlier, Syrian pro-government sources confirmed that a booby trapped car exploded in Bustan al-Basha village. However, according to the sources, the explosion was so weak that it only damaged the booby trapped car itself and killed its driver. Moreover, the sources denied that a convoy of the Russian or Syrian Army was in Bustan al-Basha when the incident occurred.
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The failed attack is likely an attempt by HTS to score some sort of “victory” in order to gain more public support and to reinforce its unstable situation in Idlib governorate. This may help HTS in its “war” with Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in the province.
