In the early hours of April 28, Russian air defense systems deployed in the Hmeimim airbase intercepted unidentified aerial objects which were heading towards the base. This was the second attack on the Russian airbase in the last 72 hours.
Local sources said that the objects were armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, the Lebanese al-Manar TV said that they were Grad rockets.
According to initial reports, all the objects were successfully shot down. No damage was recorded in the airbase or in the civilian areas in its vicinity.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Despite this, Russian warplanes carried out a series of retaliatory airstrikes on terrorist positions inside the strategic town of Qalaat al-Madiq in the northwestern Hama countryside and in its vicinity.
Qalaat al-Madiq is known to be a stronghold of the Ahrar al-Sham Movement, a part of the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation (NFL) coalition. Earlier this year, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over the town. However, recent reports suggested that Ahrar al-Sham is still operating there.
The Russian Aerospace Forces will likely carry out more airstrikes on terrorists’ positions in northwestern Syria in the upcoming few hours. These airstrikes are meant to deter terrorists, who are still refusing to respect the Russian-Turkish demilitarized zone agreement.
