On May 19, a new radical group called “Saraya al-Jihad” claimed responsibility for the explosions, which rocked the Hama airbase, west of Hama city, on May 18. The group claimed in an official statement that one of its cells had planted several IEDs inside the ammo and fuel depots in the airbase, which led to the destruction of most of the airbase’s facilities and the death of 50 soldiers and officers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
Click to see the full-size image
Saraya al-Jihad also released few low quality photos from inside the Hama airbase. However, none of these photos showed any IEDs being planted or detonated.
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
A military source from Hama airbase told SouthFront that all of these claims are false and revealed that the explosions were caused by a fire that was set up by local farmers who were trying to burn the arid grass near the base. The fire reached the ammo depots first and the fuel depots were the last to explode, contrary to what Saraya al-Jihad claims, according to the source.
Syrian pro-government sources also confirmed that the explosions in the Hama airbase injured several soldiers of the SAA, but none were killed, which also confirm that Saraya al-Jihad claims are false.
Local observers believe that Saraya al-Jihad and its statement are nothing more than a propaganda stunt, which was likely orchestrated by radical activists to raise the moral of the Syrian opposition supporters.
The photos provided are undoubtedly apart of some spy report, but I agree with SF here that Saraya’s is probably trying to take credit for an accident. On the other hand, their spy may have started that fire…
Well you would know since they are your buddies, salafist spambot.
PUBLICITY is what SARAYA AL-JIHAD is looking by Claiming to BOMB AIRBASE
They are looking to take some pieces of the “pie” that the US and Saudis so generously distribute among Takfiri groups.
It still takes a lot of time and effort to make armies disciplined. At this time such heavy loss of life for SAA is unbearable. I hope they learned such an expensive lesson at least. I fear my own country is no better. A lot of personnel don’t take the risks seriously.
Misdirection. Probably some traitor in the SAA needs protection.
Too suspicious official statement. Ammunition is in crates in hard-walled buildings around which a fire belt is arranged at the airport that has a good firefighting team and where there is no high growth… What is the chance that the problem has been caused by the burning grass?
If we use these photo as reference perhaps it’s possible.
I’m speaking in general. This is a very important military installation in a country where raging war, and therefore there are certainly over a thousand soldiers (air force, support units, least security battalion…) with minimum thirty guards and three patrols on vehicles, plus observers outside the airport . This fire must burn for hours for such damage, and too much eyes are watching what is happening around the airport. The moment that this fire would approach the fence of the airport, everyone at the airport would be familiar with it and would be ready to react in accordance with the order. Ask yourself, if your neighbor fires something in his backyard, would you raise eyebrow for a moment and assess if what he does can endanger you?
True.
saa are hiding something. maybe it was too embarising or they just don’t want anymore tension being built up, or they don’t want someone to have credit for their succesfull operation.
“Saraya al-Jews”
Farmers burning grass ignited a series of such massive explosions. WOW.
yeah seams to be a lie. considering civilians are not allowed to be near military fac. and even an airbase.
What a fuck is Jews Puppet Russia doing in Syria – if -doesn’t give -S 300 to Syria to defend itself
Go take a running jump, numptie.
So many carless and incompetent people a round they just like walking zombies Need to clean up and organize the air base if you live rubbish and shit a round anything can happen
New name but same old U.S. Israel, Saudi sponsored terrorists. It’s some comfort to know that the best so called ISIS DAesh can do are poorly documented, random acts of violence.
According to AMN there was a technical failure.
“New Radical group” = FUKUS or their puppets.
So much for Israeli spambot joe dirts assertion that it was a miracle stealth attack drone that did that, sorry joe but the Israeli military ain’t that competent.
you are the biggest sucker i have ever seen.
‘new’… I doubt it, just another rename for some wankers from isis.