File image.
Russian air defenses deployed at Khmeimim Air Base on the Syrian coast repelled a drone attack late on April 24, according to Syrian media reports.
Khmeimim, which is mainly run by the Russian Aerospace Forces, is considered the main headquarters of the Russian military group operating in Syria. Another base operated by the Russian Navy is located at the port of Tartus, further south along the coast. Forces from the military group are also deployed at al-Qamishli Airport in the northeast of the country.
Videos posted to social networks showed anti-aircraft guns engaging multiple drones over Khmeimim. No casualties or damage were reported as a result of the failed attack.
The attack came amid reports of an unusual mobilization by the forces of the Syrian Islamist-led interim government on the coast.
Tensions have been mounting on the coast since government forces unleashed a deadly crackdown against the Alawite religious minority, which makes up most of the region’s population, last month. More than 1,600 civilians, mainly Alawites, were killed and tens of thousands others were displaced, with nearly 10,000 sheltering refuge at Khmeimim.
Russian forces expanded their control around Khmeimim after the crackdown, entering at least three nearby towns to secure the air base. The move was apparently coordinated with government forces which withdrew from the towns of Qubaisiya, Bakhdarmo, and Khirbet al-Ashar.
Since then, several drones have been intercepted by Russian air defenses over both Khmeimim and Tartus, with no side claiming responsibility.
Russia and the Syrian government maintain high levels of communications. However, an agreement on the future of Russian bases is yet to be reached.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa said that Moscow had supplied the Syrian military for decades, implying that his country will not abandon its historic military ties with Russia.
“Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council. Syria’s weapons are entirely Russian. And there are many food and energy agreements that Syria has relied on for many years,” Mr. al-Shara said. “We must take these Syrian interests into consideration.”
The recent drone attacks on Russian bases in Syria may be an attempt to sabotage communications between the two countries.
After the fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad last December, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned after that the United States and British intelligence services were preparing “terrorist acts” against Russian bases in Syria, including the use of drones.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
it is more likely that this was done by the government, which wants to sell the live goods stored at the base.
h tt p s:/ /w w w .zero hed ge.com/geo pol itical/glo bal-silenc e-am id-hts-alli es-take-alaw ite-wo me n-sex-slav es-syri a
ahmed al-sharaa is a cia brainwashed terrorist with several aliases . no one can seriously expect him to change his behavior.
erdogan says, israel will join to armenian end soon