Media: Russian Khmeimim military base in Syria attacked with missiles
Interfax news agency reported that two missiles approaching the Russian-operated Syrian airbase at Khmeimim were shot down by the Pantsir-S1 system. A third missile failed to reach the airbase at all.
The AMN publication claims that two missiles were shot down in the province of Idlib, bordering Latakia. It says that Russian helicopters are patrolling the area from which rockets were allegedly fired.
The Russian military operation in Syria began on September 30, 2015. The Russian Air Force has been supporting Syrian Army ground operations ever since. Russia maintains a naval base in Tartus as well as the air base at the Khmeimim airfield. Troops from the Ministry of Defense’s special operations forces operate in Syria.
Khmeimim’s anti-aircraft defense is comprised of S-400 and Pantsir-S1 missile systems. According to the Jane’s publication, Russia deployed its second S-400 system in Syria.
The Pantsir-S1 is intended for close-range defense against air attacks. The defense for the Russian Navy base in Tartus is provided by S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, as well as the Bastion coastal missile systems with cruise missiles. Both the S-300 and the S-400 provide long range air defense.