Russian Air Force Repels Terrorist Attack on Hmeymim

Date: 20 May 2019 - 21:15

News ID: ۶۶۱۸۴

DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that al-Nusra Front terrorists fired six missiles at Russia's Hmeymim base in Syria on May 19. The ministry added that no casualties or damage had been registered following the attack.
"Despite the fact that the armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic ensured full ceasefire starting midnight, May 18, Nusra terrorists continued provocations and shelling in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Thus, in the evening of May 19, 2019, Nusra terrorists made an attempt to attack Russian Hmeymim air base using multiple launch rocket systems… At around 8 p.m. on Sunday [17:00 GMT], terrorists fired six missiles from the Idlib de-escalation zone at the Russian Hmeymim air base in Syria. The air defense forces of the base on duty destroyed all the projectiles," the statement read.
The Russian Aerospace Forces has destroyed Nusra's multiple launch rocket system in Idlib, as well as two drones, the ministry went on to say.
The statements come a day after the Russian Centre for Reconciliation in Syria said that the Syrian Army unilaterally ceased fire in Idlib starting from May 18.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed ceasefire violations by terrorists operating in Idlib de-escalation zone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Previously, the head of Russia's Reconciliation Centre in Syria said that terrorist groups acting in the Idlib de-escalation zone haven't ceased their attempts to attack Russia's Hmeymim base and Syrian government troops, adding that the terrorists attempted to shell Hmeymim airbase using multiple-launch rocket systems as well as drones twelve times over the past month.
The development came only two days after Syrian air defense systems thwarted a drone and missile attack on Hmeimim airbase.
Syria’s state-run television network reported at the time that foreign-sponsored militants positioned in Qardahah village, which overlooks the coastal town of Latakia, as well as Jablah district had fired the projectiles at the base.
Russia has been helping Syrian forces in ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued Arab country.
The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other foreign-backed terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russian air cover.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

In this photo taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on October 6, 2015, a Russian SU-24M jet fighter takes off from an airbase Hmeymim in Syria.