A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
On September 24, video footage of recent Russian strikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib surfaced online.
The footage shows six airstrikes that targeted positions and equipment of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, and its allies.
The airstrikes were carried out earlier this month as a part of a joint Syrian-Russian operation. The operation came in response to recent violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib by HTS and its allies. The violations included a tunnel bombing in the southern Idlib countryside on August 26 that reportedly claimed the lives of 11 soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
Some 111 militants were killed and at least 80 others were wounded during the operation, according to a statement by the Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Despite these heavy losses, HTS and allies remain undeterred. On September 15, HTS militants raided a position of the SAA in the northern Lattakia countryside. An officer and three soldiers were killed in the attack. Later on September 23, the militants targeted a tank in the southern Idlib countryside with an anti-tank guided missile.
The SAA and the Russian military group in Syria could launch a new operation against HTS and its allies in the upcoming few days or weeks in order to respond to recent ceasefire violations. However, a ground attack on the region remains highly unlikely due to the objection of Turkey, who maintains a large force there.
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general popov is doing a good job in syria.
takto sa to robí!!! teroristov treba ničiť!!! a teraz sa treba zamerať na tých z darebáckeho štátu usa ktorí neoprávnene okupujú sýriu a okrádajú ju o nerastné bohatstvo. rf by mala vyzbrojiť sýrsku armádu po vzore usa ako oni vyzbrojujú banderovských fašistov!!!