A Russian Su-24 takes off on a combat mission at Hemeimeem airbase, Syria, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. IMAGE: AP PHOTO/VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
On August 21, a new wave of Russian airstrikes hit the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, where many terrorist groups are present.
The airstrikes destroyed a compound located near the town of Hmeimat in al-Ghab Plains in the northwestern countryside of Hama. The region is an infamous stronghold of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, and the Turkistan Islamic Party.
No casualties were reported as a result of the airstrikes. The exact nature of the targeted compound is yet to be revealed.
الطيران الحربي الروسي نفذ عدة غارات على قرية حميمات المطلة على سهل الغاب لموقع تابعة ل “هتش” وحقق اصابات محققة فيهم. pic.twitter.com/WYg2T5PYIH
— ملك السلطنه (@jamlyyyyy_) August 21, 2021
غارات روسية من الطيران الحربي استهدفت اطراف قرية حميمات بريف ادلب الغربي تلاها قصف مدفعي على نفس المكان والان تحليق لطيران الاستطلاع الروسي في سماء المنطقة pic.twitter.com/2mPWBxo8uA
— انس المعراوي (@anasanas84) August 21, 2021
The Russian Aerospace Forces have been bombing Greater Idlib for the last three days. On August 19, Russian warplanes bombed a headquarters of HTS in the town of Ein Shib in the western Idlib countryside. On August 20, a series of airstrikes hit Ein Shib as well as the town of Qurqnia in the northern countryside of Idlib.
The recent Russian airstrikes appear to be a response to the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib. HTS and its allies launch attacks from the region on a daily basis.
The Syrian Arab Army and its allies have been reportedly mobilizing their troops around Greater Idlib. Nevertheless, the chances of the army actually launching a ground operation in the region remain extremely slim.
