Militant Drone Targeted Russian Khmeimim Air Base In Syria

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On September 27, the Russian Khmeimim airbase in Syria was targeted with a drone. According to the official statement by the Russian military, the drone launched by militants in Greater Idlib was shot down by the defense systems of the military base.

No victims or material damage were reported as a result of the failed attack.

“There are no victims or material damage as a result of the incident. The Russian Khmeimim airbase is functioning as planned, ” Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, claimed on September 27.

Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit added that the drone was launched from the territory unde the militants’ control in the Idlib de-escalation zone. It was detected at half past twelve by the air defense systems in the Russian Khmeimim airbase.

The drone was downed by the Russian Pantsir-S air defense system.

Footage showing the UAV is yet to be released.

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The drone attack may be a response to the regular air strikes that are carried out by the Russian Aerospace forces (VKS) on the militants’ positions over the Syria’s Idlib.

On September 26^th , Russian air strikes on the Turkish-occupied area of Afrin claimed the lives of 11 Turkish-backed militants. On the previous day, the VKS conducted a series of raids on Afrin in response to an attack by Turkish-backed militants on a SAA post located to the south of the occupied area. Several militants from the al-Shamiya Front were reportedly killed.

In response, Turkish-backed militants in northeastern Syria opened fire on two Russian military helicopters which were patrolling over the region.

The situation in Syria’s Idlib is escalating as the Presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are going to discuss the Syrian issue during their meeting on September 29th in Russia’s city of Sochi.