Russia conducts air strikes in Northern Syria near Turkish border
Russian warplanes carried out a massive attack in the southwest of the Syrian Idlib province, Al-Masdar news outlet reports .
According to Al-Masdar, Russian aircraft attacked rebel-held territories near the city of Jisr al-Shughur along the Turkish border. The Russian military also launched several ballistic missiles at Jisr al-Shughur and the northern part of the Al-Ghab Plain.
The strikes were carried out after the recent drone attack on Russian Khmeimim airbase on June 30. According to the Russian Ministry of defense, the drones that carried out the attack were destroyed and there were no casualties or material damage to the airbase.
None of the militant groups claimed responsibility for the incident, but the Russian authorities believe that the attack was conducted by Uzbek and Turkmen militants.
Last December, drones carrying explosives, attacked the Russian airbase in Khmeimim. Two Russian soldiers were killed during the attack. The air base personnel were able to shoot down some of the drines. RBC news agency reported, citing its sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense, that eight drones were involved in the attack. Four Russian aircraft and two helicopters were damaged as a result of the attack. The attack also caused explosions in the ammunition depot. Later the Russian Ministry of Defense denied this information and said that the base was shelled with mortars.