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Several armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were intercepted late on October 31 by Russian air-defense systems deployed in the Hmeimim airbase on the Syrian coast.
According to local sources in the nearby city of Jableh, at least five explosions were spotted in the air near the Russian airbase.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the incident, so far. The ministry usually releases a statement on such failed attacks within a 24 hours.
There was no immediate claim for the attack. However, al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is believed to be manufacturing and operating several types of armed UAVs, which are usually used in attacks on the Russian airbase.
Such armed UAVs are usually launched from northwestern Hama or northern Lattakia. Both areas are located in the so-called Greater Idlib region, controlled by HTS and other terrorist group.
Earlier on October 31, Russian warplanes carried out more than 20 airstrikes on terrorists’ positions in Greater Idlib. One of the airstrikes wiped out a large ammo depot of HTS near Turkish border.
