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 September 30, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out at least 12 airstrikes on the northwestern region of Greater Idlib.
The airstrikes targeted positions of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, and its allies near the towns of Mseibin and Ruweiha in the southern Idlib countryside. Syrian pro-government news sources claimed that the airstrikes killed at least 20 militants and wounded many others. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
HTS and its allies violated the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than two years ago, on several occasions over the last few days. Most of the violations were sniper attacks.
The airstrikes came on the seventh anniversary of the start of Russian counter-terrorism operations in Syria. The very first Russian airstrikes in the country targeted key positions of HTS, back then known as the al-Nusra Front, in Greater Idlib and several other regions.
Russian counter-terrorism operations allowed Syria government forces to reclaim most of the country, including vast parts of Greater Idlib, from terrorist groups like ISIS and HTS.
The new wave of airstrikes on Greater Idlib were not only meant to deter HTS and its allies, but also to confirms Russia’s lasting commitment to the war on terrorism in Syria.
- HTS Attack Turkish-Backed Militants Near Main Frontline In Syria’s Greater Idlib
- Hezbollah, IRGC Moved Missiles To Palmyra In Central Syria: Monitoring Group
The US and NATO couldn’t even defeat a third world, banana republic dictator like Assad during 11 years of sanctions, war and direct military support to Sunni-Wahhabi terrorists. What makes them think they can defeat Russia.