Illustrative image.
On November 13, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) shelled the northwestern region of Greater Idlib with Russian-made 2K25 Krasnopol guided artillery rounds.
The pinpoint artillery strikes targeted militants’ positions in the outskirts of the town of Taftanaz in the eastern countryside of Idlib. Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, maintains a large presence in this area.
Syrian opposition activists shared video footage of the shelling as well as photos showing the remains of at least one Krasnopol round.
قصف مدفعي من قبل عصابات الأسد يستهدف محيط بلدة #تفتناز_ شرق أدلب pic.twitter.com/EWqzHAqJUV
— AlaaEddin Aldeyab (@alaaaldeyab) November 13, 2021
قبل قليل قامت عصابات الاسد والميليشيات الروسية باستهداف بلدة تفتناز شرق ادلب بقذيفة كراسنوبول الموجهة بالليزر.
الصور هي لمخلفات القذيفة pic.twitter.com/xT1rjUATIi— انس المعراوي (@anasanas84) November 13, 2021
بقايا قذائف الكراسنبول الليزرية التي إستهدفت محيط مدينة تفتناز بريف إدلب عصر اليوم…. pic.twitter.com/ROAOGPwJGe
— المرصد أبو أمين 80 (@Najdat567) November 13, 2021
The 2K25 Krasnopol, which is guided by a semi-active laser, can be fired by most 152 mm artillery guns. The advanced round has a range of 20 to 30 km and can hit its targets, that can be illuminated from the ground or the air, with top accuracy.
The SAA artillery strikes were likely a response to recent violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than a year ago.
According to the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria, two service members of the SAA were wounded in indirect fire attacks carried out by HTS on November 9.
Meanwhile, Turkey continues to reinforce its troops in Greater Idlib, not to implement the ceasefire agreement, but to stop any operation by the SAA and its allies. Ankara wants to maintain the status quo in the region that has became a safe haven for many wanted terrorists.
